Reuben Delton, preacher : a sequel to "The story of Marthy"

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ofttie

tSnibergitp of iSortii Carolina

Collection of J^ortlj Caroliniana
CSl'6
T>S5re.

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V

This BOOK may be kept out TWO WEEKS
ONLY, and is subject to a fine of FIVE
CENTS a day thereafter. It was taken out
on the day indicated below:

APR 3 1973

REUBEN DELTON,

PREACHER:

A SEQUEL TO
"THE STORY OF MARTHY."

BY

S. O'H. DICKSON,

Author o/'"'' Guessing at Heroes.^'' '^ Hoivard JMcPhlinn^'' '' Tlie Story of
Marthy^'' '' The Grangers ajid Other Stories.''^

RICHMOND, VA.:
Presbyterian CoMxMittee of Publication.

Copyrighted

BY

J AS. K. HAZEN, Secretary of Publication.

1900.

Printed by

Whittet & Shepperson,

Richmond, Va.

TO THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW

"THE MOUNTAIN WHITES OF THE SOUTH,"

TO THOSE WHO WOULD HELP THEM,

AND

TO SOUL-WINNERS EVERYWHERE,

THIS STORY IS INSCRIBED

BY THE AUTHOR,

S. O'H. DICKSON.

Winston-Salem, N. C.

00

CONTEXTS.

BOOK I.

CHAPTER I.

Page.

The Call,

. 9

CHAPTER 11.

The Lost Sheep, ....

. 30

CHAPTER III.

A Strange Visitor,

. 51

CHAPTER IV.
Kindness Reciprocated, .... 67

CHAPTER V.

The Victory of Love, ..... 86

CHAPTER VI.
A New Man, 107

CHAPTER VII.
Sustaining Grace, 133

6 Contents.

BOOK II.

CHAPTER I. PAGE.

Into the Unknown, ..... 147

CHAPTER II.
The Friends They Left Behind, . . .176

CHAPTER III.

'Tis Home Where'er the Heart Is," . . 190

<c

CHAPTER IV.
Some Sad Sights, ...... 209

CHAPTER V.

Preacher Delton in a New Role, . . .222

CHAPTER VI.

The Deltons as Psychological Studies, . .239

CHAPTER VII.
A Fisher of Men, 263

CHAPTER VIII.
A Year's Changes, 284

A POSTSCRIPT.
A Year Later, ...... 295

Book I.

Howe'er it be, it seems to me

'Tis only noble to be good ;
Kind hearts are more than coronets,

And simple faith than Norman blood."

Tennyson.

Reuben Delton, Preacher.

CHAP TEE I.
The Call.

IT was the early dawn of a summer morning,
in the heart of the Bhie Eidge Mountains.
A o'reat sea of mist stretched far as the eve could
reach, nay, it seemed to bathe the very shores of
etemitv !

A cold ^vind was blowing from where the
dawn was beginning to redden the eastern sky.
Here and there the waves of this great white sea
were catching those delicate pink tints which
were soon to deepen into the wondrous rose that
transforms cold mists into a sea of fflorv.

Such a scene Marthy Delton looked out upon,
with a heart thrilling with devout admiration,
some four years after the date of her marriage,
at which time The Story of MaHJiy closed.

She was standing in the front door of the
comfortable home to which Reuben Delton had
taken her as a bride. Her bright face had

10 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

gained in attractiveness — as every woman's
should — in the four years of her married life.
There was strength as well as sweetness there
now. Strength that had come wdth habits of
self-control and self-denial, and sweetness that
had been added by love, both as wife and
mother.

She wrapjDed her red shawl about her head
and shoulders more closely, as she lingered to
watch the ever-new wonder of the sunrise, and
her brown eyes filled with tears, that rose from
the depths of a keen sorrow, the first great sor-
row of her young life! Eeuben had told her
something that led her to fear they might have
to turn her back on the dear little home, and
on the scenes which she loved almost worship-
fully.

She brushed away the tears, though, and sang
in a clear, rich voice the w^ords that oftenest
came to mind when she looked out from the
manse door —

" All thy works shall praise thee, 0 Lord,
And thy saints shall bless thee."

She could not see the barn-vard, where Eeub
was feeding the stock, but she heard his cheery
whistling, and turned away with almost a sob to
go to her work in the kitchen.

"He does not feel it as much as I do, and yet

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 11

I know how much Eeiib loves his home and the
view, bnt he is always happy," she thonght — ■
and I am sure that he deserves to be so.

She busied herself in her trim little cook-
room, built bv Eeub's own hands, and adorned
by a first-rate stove, the gift of Mrs. Boutelle,
who continued to be one of Marthy's warmest
friends.

As she kneaded her biscuits she sang, "just to
keep from thinking of other things," she said,
but, in a little while, w^as interrupted by a child's
voice, calling —

"Mummy! oh! mummy; oo baby vanter dit
up."

"All right boy. Mummy will be there in a
minute."

She put the biscuits in the stove, and ran in
to her splendid boy. He had his mother's soft
brown eyes, and his father's clear complexion
and bright smile, and "the temper of both of us"
— wrote Marthy to Miss Greyson, quite early in
his life.

Reuben and Marthy had never a doubt as to
their little boy's name. It must be Greyson, of
course, and there was not one of their friends
who differed from them on the subject; and so
Greyson he was, nearly three years old now,
and master of enough "American" to make

12

Reuben Delton, Preacher.

known, not only his wants, but his opinions on
many subjects.

^^One that ruloth well his own house, having
his children in subjection with all gravity," was
the motto which Miss Greyson had suggested to
Reuben, in reply to a joint letter in which they
had deplored their boy's temper.

"Of course, I know that Marthy will rule you
— that goes without the saying. Most women
rule their husbands in one way or another ; but
read the whole chapter, from which my sugges-
tion is taken, mv dear, both of vou, and vou will
see what excellent reasons Paul gives for foUow-
ine: his advice. I want vou to combine and
make a perfect success."

And now, breaking in upon their personal
plans, as well as those bearing upon their work,
had come a call to go into another part of the
Master's field !

Reuben had told her the night before that he
was looking for letters from two of the brethren,
and that he felt sure that they would have a
momentous question to decide.

"A\^iv didn't vou tell me before, Reub ? It
isn't one bit like you to keep anything back from

me.

")•>

Reuben rose from his seat, and, putting his
arm about her, drew Marthv to him.

7 *,

Reuhen Delton, Preacher. 13

^There's never been a tliouglit in my mind
worth sharing, Marthy, that I haven't told you,
but" — he hesitated — "but I have been afraid to
talk about this."

Marthy looked up quickly. ''Oh! Reub, do
vou mean — do vou think God is calling us away
from this SAveet home, and our w^ork here?"

Her eyes were filling with tears, her cheeks
were flushed, her lips were quivering. Reub
was moved by deep feeling too. At a glance
thev seemed to take in their little home, all its
comforts, and its simple attractions; the gar-
den, the young trees just beginning to show
for the care taken of them — and then that out-
look!

. . . that very sea
Of billowy mountains breaking free
In waves of beauty 'gainst the glowing sky!

How cotdd they leave it all ! And then, as the
spiritual power within them gained the ascen-
dency, their thoughts turned to the people
among whom they had been working. How
could they leave them ?

''But, my dear, we are really wasting time
and tears on this subject, by anticipating the
Lord's providence.

''We do not actually know what Brother Dol-
liver wants to find out. Maybe it is some ques-

14 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

tion of stock-raising, or chickens, or the best
way to make a little money go a long way.''

Reuben, as usual, was trying to divert Mar-
thy's thoughts. It was a new thing to see her so
cast down.

Reuben stooped and kissed his wife, then,
taking Greyson from his chair, tossed him
high in the air, and soon had saddled his horse,
and was on the way to the post-office, a mile
off.

If Marthv could have met him suddenly, as
he rode slowly towards EvergTeen, she would
have been astonished. He was not following his
own advice to her.

But the fact was that Reuben Delton was
almost perfectly sure that the letter he was ex-
pecting would contain a definite call to another
part of the mountain field.

He had known for some time that a hardy,
mountain man was needed, who could go among
the people as one of themselves; who could en-
dure the hardships and discomforts, while he
was lifting the people to better things.

There was a conflict begun already in his
heart. The enemy of souls and self were in
league to-day, and it was well for Preacher Del-
ton's peace of mind that he whose name is "Won-
derful Counsellor" was beside him.

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 16

As lie rode up to Evergreen post-office, a cross-
road store and post-office combined, his heart
beat with unwonted vigor.

This young man, reared in the quiet atmos-
phere of a respectable mountain farmer^s home,
with different environments, might have devel-
oped very marked aesthetic gifts ; as it was, his
education, and his marriage to one of like tastes,
and his natural surroundings, had moulded his
thoughts and revealed a nature fully in sympa-
thy with beauty in every form. This might
have unfitted him for his chosen work, but his
unwearying labors among the most wretched
and impoverished of the mountaineers for miles
around had ffiven ballast to the aesthetic side of
his nature, and the result was a character that
well deserved the title given by a quaint old
writer, ^^God Almighty's gentleman.''

When Reuben Delton reached Evergreen,
there were the usual loafers around the door.
One or two sorry looking mules were hitched to
posts near by.

The post boy had just arrived, and Reuben,
though eager enough for his mail to-day, stopt
with a friendly word for each of the group out-
side, and was met with a look of welcome that
does not often adorn the stolid faces of men
utterly untrained in the habit of expression ; in-

16 Reuheii Delton, Preacher.

deed, who seem often devoid of the feeling that
needs expression.

The opening of the mail of a country post-
office is soon accomplished. A few newspapers
from the county town, and, maybe, a few more
from the outside world, a stray letter or two —
such had been the story of mail delivery at
Evergreen post-office until Preacher Delton had
settled in the neighborhood.

Probablv half of the men collected about the
door had no other motive for waiting there than
the desire to see Reub Delton get his mail. It
was a never-ceasing source of wonder and amuse-
ment, too ; and the value of their preacher was
enhanced in no small degree by the universal
belief that '^^he gits ther mos' letters of any man
in Wautaus'a countv, you bet."

This morning when Reuben asked, "Any let-
ters for me to-day, Mooney ?" there was a burst
of laughter outside, and somebody called out,
"Say, preacher, d'you ever happen not ter git
anything V^

Reub's anxious expression gave place to a
bright smile as he called out, "Oh ! yes, I think
so."

He had hardly finished speaking when the
postmaster handed him a bundle, and at a glance
he saw that the letter on top was postmarked
Asheville.

Eeuhen Delton, Preacher. 17

He was about to beat a hasty retreat when a
woman turned the corner of the building, and
came in.

^^Waal, preacher, is that you. Why, I was
a plannin' ter come on down ter yer house arter
you. Why, Mandy Snoggs, up yer on the
Squire's mountain farm, why she's down with
the fever, an' powerful bad off. She said she
wanted to see you — could you go up thar some
time to-day?"

'^Oh ! yes, of course, I'll go, Mrs. Belvin, but
I'll be obliged to go home first. I guess that
Mandy will need some things, and maybe my
wife can go too.

^'Well, I'm right glad, fur you'uns is the on'y
ones kin do anything with Mandy, an' she do
need somethin' to make her more easv 'an' she
is now."

In a moment Reuben had decided that it
would not do to leave Marthy in suspense about
the letter. He could read it himself on the way
up to the miserable little hovel on the mountain
that ^landy Snoggs called home, but he had no
right to let Marthy suffer suspense which he
could relieve.

Accordingly, he mounted his horse quickly,
and as he rode he tore open the letter post-
marked from Asheville, and found that it was

18 Ueuben Delton, Preacher.

indeed from an evangelist of that Presbytery,
and this was tlie letter :

"Dear Brother Deltok" : In the course of
a conversation v^ith Brother Munson, a short
while ago, he mentioned yon as a man very well
fitted for onr mountain field. When he did so,
I regarded the testimony as particularly oppor-
tune. We are sorely in need of a strong men,
bodily, mentally, spiritually strong. The de-
velopment of our work depends on prompt and
vigorous action. '

^'Now you may be saying that what is true
over here is equally true on your side of the
mountain, and I can believe you ; but I think I
can prove to you that our call is not unreason-
able.

"We have several men spiritually and men-
tally fitted for the work ; men ready and willing
to deny themselves for Christ, but they are not
physically suited. They are town-bred men, and
you know that the environments of ever so poor
a man in town are very different from those of
one reared in the mountains, consequently they
do not so readily adapt themselves to their work ;
they are recognized as 'differ'nt. In conse-
quence their intercourse savors of patronage,
without their meaning it.

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 19

'^Others are willing to go for training, or as
an experiment, but do not look forward to this
as a permanent field.

"l^o\Y Brother M tells me that yon were

born and reared in the mountains, and have had
four years of encouraging experience as a pastor
among these people, and, still further, that you
mean this to be your life-work.

^Trom what he tells me of your wife, I judge
that she is as well qualified as yourself.

^^Ours is a Macedonian cry. Think over it,
and pray over it, from our standpoint as well as
from your own, before you reply.

^^And may he whose work it is guide you !

"I am yours fraternally,
^^ James Montgomery Doleiver.^''

Reuben Delton folded the letter and rode
slowly on without gathering up the reins which
he had allowed to fall on his horses' s neck.

His very first thought was of Mar thy. How
could she bear to go? Poor little Marthy,
whose life had been so full of brightness for the
last ten years ; who had a nature so fitted for
the refinements and the comforts of life; how
could he ask her to give up such as they had in
their sweet mountain manse ?

Then his thoughts turned to one and then an-

20 Reuben Delton, Preaclier.

other of tliose who they had rescued from lives
of sill and wretchedness, and over whom they
watched with unceasing prayer and patience;
how could they leave them ? Wonld it be right ?
Wlio could take their place? He suddenly re-
membered that this was all the Master's work,
and that if he needed a laborer in another part
of his field, he would attend to the filling of his
place without the assistance of either Martliy or
himself.

He was in sight of his home by this time.
The cottage had never looked more attractive
to Reub. Over the front door, on a trellis built
bv his own hands, a luxuriant nasturtium and a
scarlet bean were trailing. The front yard was
gay with dahlias and others flowers. The small
windows, with their white curtains, and the
shelves under them adorned with choice potted
plants, all gave an air of blended comfort and
beauty that appealed to the aesthetic taste of
Reuben Helton.

Then he looked across the road to the com-
fortable, well-filled bam, and to the lot where his
stock was grazing, and then, off to that wonder-
ful view, which grew dearer and dearer to him
every day. The pure, fresh breeze that was
nearly always blowing here, fanned his brow.

The lazy, white clouds drifted slowly above

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 21

the foreground of the wondrous picture, casting
their soft blue shadows, sometimes on the sunlit
mountains, sometimes on the yellow fields, where
hay stacks lent their picturesque forms to the
beauty of the scene, catching their small share
of shadow, and offering it as a shelter to the
sheep that were too lazy to graze.

Away down in the valley, enclosed by pre-
cipitous wooded hills, in a newly-cleared field
was a cabin, from whose chimney curled the
smoke like a pale blue wreath against the back-
ground of dark green.

There lived a man whom Reuben had rescued
from a desperate life by his patient kindness,
and who was now a sober, law-abiding citizen,
earning his living for the first time by the sweat
of his brow.

That humble cabin was almost as delightsome
a feature of the landscape as the pale blue moun-
tains that faded into the sky at the distant hori-
zon.

With a smile that put his strong face into mo-
mentary beauty, and with hearty thanksgiving
for that saved soul, he could not trust himself
to dwell longer with the thoughts that were rush-
ing into his soul like a flood. Hitching his
horse at the gate, he went into the house calling
for Marthy. She was busy at her washtub down

22 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

at tlie spring, not a hundred yards in the rear
of the building.

Little Greyson was playing happily near her,
and she was singing in a clear, sweet voice —

" It may not be my way,
It may not be thy way,
But still in his own way
The Lord will provide."

She heard Keuben call her, and wiping hands
quickly, she called out, ''I'm coming, preacher,"
then turning to Greyson, ''Come, boy, let's go to
papa, and you can have your 'bicky' and 'go
seepy by' when you get through."

Marthy had studied her husband's counte-
nance so closely during the four happy years of
their wedded life that she read at a glance, as
he stood in the doorway of the cook-room, that
the letter he had expected had come.

"Well '?" she said in a tone in which anxiety
was stronger than mere curiosity.

For answer Eeuben handed her a letter.
"That is from Brother Dolliver, and I read it
comins: alono\ This one is from Brother Mun-
son. I have not opened it yet."

"What is it, preacher ? Tell me quickly. I'd
rather hear you say. You know this is the same
Marthy that was always asking, 'What for?'
and 'Why' at Skyland. I don't love to wait now

Reuhen Delton, Preacher. 23

much better than I did then. I had mighty hard
work, and to keep singing, too, while you were
gone."

^'Sit down and read that carefully while I
give baby his biscuit and put him to sleep, then
we will talk it over."

Marthy sat down dutifully on the step while
her husband passed into the house with his little
boy for one of his chief pleasures, "a wock wid
papa."

But he did not find papa as entertaining as
usual. Thoughts would wander, crossing moun-
tains, with telegraphic rapidity, and coming
back as quickly to search his own heart.

This man had firmly grasped twO' principles
upon which the happiness of the Christian life is
built. Having accepted the Saviour as his
divine and personal Redeemer, he recognized
that he owed his Lord both obedience and ser-
vice.

If this was the Lord's call, he must obey it.
If this was the service required of him, he must
give it.

He looked down into the flushed face of his
child, around whom clustered some of the bright-
est of his hopes and plans for the future good of
the mountain people, and thought : all those
plans may have to be overturned; that ought

24 Reuben DeUon, Preacher.

to show me wliat a mistake it is to look so far
ahead, ^^^lo am I to anticipate God's provi-
dences, instead of living and serving liim by the
day r

^'Papa, w'at oo dot dem long fings up dere
for ?" asked Greyson, in a sleepy tone, and
stretching his dimpled, half-bared arm to touch
the heavy lines of thought on his father's brow.

Out of the mouth of his babe he was being
chidden for the care that was almost overwhelm-
ing him this morning.

^'Papa was thinking too hard, boy, but he'll
smile, and they'll all niTi away."

He looked down at the beautiful boy and
smiled, and the little hand stole up and patted
his cheek, the drowsy lids fell, the angel of sleep
had come, and in a few moments the little boy
was away in Dreamland, and Peuben was free to
join Martliy. She had finished reading the let-
ter, and it lay open upon her lap. She sat with
her head thrown back against the doorj)Ost, and
was looking off over the dense forest that cov-
ered the mountain side behind the house. She
could see no further there than she could bevond
the letter lying in her lap. The tears had gath-
ered in her eyes, and when she turned to Reuben
one fell upon her cheek. He sat do^^m beside
her, and said :

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 25

"Well, Martliy, what do yon make of this ?
Yon always hear the Master's voice qnicker than
I do — at least, yon are always qnicker to obey."

"Oh ! no, oh ! no,'' she replied hastily. "Don't
say that, Renb. Even if I do seem to obey
qnicker, it is more becanse I am afraid not to
than becanse I am more glad to obey ; bnt oh !
preacher, why — why — why did this call come?
I cannot see any f nrther yet than onr dear home,
and the work that I have learned to love here."

Renben sighed deeply, as he sat patting her
hand gently.

"The best thing we can do is to take this
tronble to God at once." He rose and giving
her his hand, lifted her to her feet, and thev
knelt together in the qniet of their own room,
while he ponred ont his sonl in a prayer for
light.

"Lead ns in a plain path," was the cry. Re-
newing their entire consecration to their Lord,
and to his work, they asked for clear convictions
of dnty, and for strength to act npon them.

When thev rose from their knees there was a
light in Marthy's face that Renben conld never
forget. Whether they shonld decide to go or
stay she had snrrendered her will afresh.

"Well, dear," said Renben, looking down into
the dear face, dearer and more winsome than
ever to him ; "what do yon think ?"

26 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

"Do you remember, preacher/' asked Marthy,
using lier favorite name for lier husband, '^do
you remember how we asked, at the beginning of
the year, for more service ? and how we recalled
that God's thoughts are not as our thoughts, nor
his ways as our ways ? I would be afraid to
stay, if Presbytery is willing for us to go. That
is the wav I feel about it. It would be an awful
thing to prevent the answer to our own prayer !
But you've never opened Mr. Munson's letter."

Reuben drew it from his pocket, and breaking
open the envelope, read the following letter :

^^Dear Beothee Delton : When I was say-
ing goodbye to you at Blowing Rock, if you
remember, I told vou that I had had a letter
from Brother Dolliver, of Asheville Presbytery,
and that I would write you about it later.

^^Yesterdav Brother D wrote me that he

was about to write to you himself. If you have
received that letter, the matter is explained. It
has given me some wakeful nights, and much
perplexity. God forbid that I should hinder
any man whom the Master calls to another part
of his vinevard !

"Brother D made some strong points in

favor of your going to his help, some that, put-
ting myself in your place, I would fear to refuse.

Beuben Delton, Preacher. 27

The need for an experienced man avIio is also a
native mountaineer, is greater there, because the
work is just begun ; but I feel a reluctance that
can hardly express to give you up. We have
worked together in such perfect harmony, and
you have had such an influence for good in your
section of the Wautauga field, and your brave
wife has been such a power for good, that I can-
not see how you can be spared.

"But you and I believe that the Spirit has
his own way of showing us the way wherein we
should walk, and therefore I commend you to
his unfailing care and guidance. It was his call
that you heeded when you entered the ministry,
and he will doubtless lead vou now.

"With kindest regards for your wife, and a
kiss for your bright boy,

"I am, very truly yours,

"James Munson.'^

Both Reuben and Marthy were touched by
this letter, for there was a cordial tone of inter-
est and of confidence in them that was gratify-
ing, and which they had reason to believe was
perfectly sincere.

They knew that their influence had been
blessed in the neighborhood, but they gave the
credit for their success to whom it was due, and

28 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

believed that grace had been given them, accord-
ing to promise.

^'Whether we go or stay we must eat dinner,
j)reacher,'' Marthj said, as she glanced up at
the clock; and in her heart she thanked God
anew for those homely, inevitable duties that
compel us to act when we feel most overpowered
by sorrow or perplexity.

^^We must try to go up to Mandy Snoggs' this
afternoon, Marthy; Mrs. Belvin was at the
store this morning, and said that she was on her
way here to tell us that Mandy was very sick,
and wouldn't I go up there."

A shadow fell on Marthy's face when Reuben
said this. Mandy Snoggs had been one of the
greatest trials of her life ever since they had
settled here. Coarse, ignorant, with the record
of a dark life of sin behind her, she had been a
persistent visitor at the manse. Dirty in her
dress, inquisitive and prying, almost beyond
endurance, she still seemed to recognize what
was good and pure and lovely in Reuben and
Marthy, and to be drawn to them ; and Marthy
dared not repulse her, for was it not such as this
woman that they sought to rescue — nay, was it
not such sinners that Jesus came to save ?

The last visit that she had made them had
tried Marthy's patience almost beyond the power

Beuhen Delton, Preacher. 29

of endurance, and yet at that time the woman
had listened quietly to the reading of the Bible,
and had asked her, before leaving, to ^^say over
again'' the words of John iii. 16.

^^She is beginning to grope towards the light,
I do believe, Reub," Marthy had told Reub after
she was gone.

There was so much to think of this afternoon,
so much to pray over, and yet she had never re-
fused to go with Reub anywhere, unless she was
sick, or could not take Greyson.

"What will we do with baby ?" she asked anx-
iously, so anxiously that Reuben, interpreting
the shadow on her face, could not but smile, for
it was evident Marthy hoped her boy would give
her an excuse to stay at home.

"Oh ! that will be easy enough ; the Farn-
hams are always glad to have him there. I be-
lieve he loves Bessie next best to vou. I think
that you ought to go dear ; Mandy must need a
woman's care and suitable food."

"Well," said Marthy, quickly recovering her
cheerful tone; "but I do wonder why I should
have to go this particular afternoon !"

Reuben smiled, and said gently, "My wife is
being trained in patience and obedience."

With that to reflect on, Reuben left her to
prepare their simple midday meal, while he
looked after his stock.

CHAPTEE II.

The Lost Sheep.

BY two o'clock they were ready for the visit
to the sick woman. Mar thy was inoiinted
on ^'Delight/' the noble horse which Reuben
counted in as a member of the family. Happy
little Greyson was seated on his mother's lap,
and Reuben walked beside them, carrying a
basket containing such articles as Marthy knew
by experience would be needed in the bare cabin
of Mandy Snoggs.

^^Baby go Farnha' ; baby go Farnha' !" cried
the happy little boy, as they started off in a brisk
walk.

It was a picture worthy of an artist's brush,
this family group ; and how Miss Greyson would
have feasted her proud eyes upon it !

Reuben's stalwart, figure, clad in brown jeans,
his clear complexions, bright grey eyes, and
curly brown hair, gave to him an air of that
perfect manhood we read about and strive after,
too often in vain.

Marthy, in her neat, dark calico dress, with
her sweet face shaded by a pretty pink sun-

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 31

bonnet, would have caused any passer-by to turn
and look again ; and tbe beautiful boy, with his
complexion so like his father's, and his mother's
brown eyes, and dressed in his simple wool dress,
and clean check apron, yet looked the young
mountain prince that he was.

They had nearly three miles of rough road to
travel after they left the beautiful turnpike at
Evergreen, so that they had need to make quick
time on the good road.

'^Whar you-uns goin', preacher ?" called out
Mr. Mooney from the door of the store, as they
drew near. He was a fat, good-natured old man,
who considered it his privilege to be posted as
to all the preacher's movements.

He had been one of Reuben's earliest converts,
and was one of his warmest friends. His long
life of sin and self-seeking had made it hard for
him to understand all the self-sacrificing care for
souls, and bodies too, which the religion of
Christ impels his followers to practice, but Reu-
ben noted with pleasure that Jim Mooney was
beginning to understand this as a motive power.

"Well, this boy is going to see his sweetheart,
while my wife and I look after Mandy Snoggs."

"Humph !" 'Pears like it were a powerful
waste uv you-uns time to be goin' up thar.
Mandy' s got ter be mighty thick with you-uns —

32

Reuben Delton, Preacher.

an' it's j)'incerpally 'case she kin fool you-nns,
an' she cain't fool nobody else 'roun' here."

^^Oh ! Mooney, I wish you wouldn't talk that
way. What right have we to choose who to save,
or to help, or who not ? Don't you believe all
things are possible with God ? He can save even
Mandy Snoggs."

^'I b'lieve he kin do all things, but I kinder
mistrust his savin' Mandy. You'uns don' know
Mandv like I do."

''But all things, Mr. Mooney," said Marthy
earnestly ; all things."

'' Yes'm," said Mooney, slowly ; ''all things is
possible, I know; but" — here he gave her a
searching look out of his shrewd blue eyes — "but
he don' have ter do all things, an' I don' see how
he kin elect ter save Mandy."

"My thoughts are not as your thoughts,
neither are your ways my Avays, saith the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so
are my ways higher than your ways, and my
thoughts tlian your thoughts," quoted Reuben,
reverently.

Mr. Mooney looked at him with a softer ex-
pression in his face, and said, "I 'low that's so,
preacher, but it's powerful hard to believe he's
a goin' ter save Mandy Snoggs, for all that."

Reuben smiled, and said patiently, "Well,

Reuben Deltorij Preacher. 33

we'll see, and in the meanwhile suppose yon pray
for poor Mandy/'

They started off towards the Farnhanis',
which was only a short distance beyond the
store, on the tnrnpike, and there they left Grey-
son with his devoted friend, Bessie Farnham, a
bright girl of thirteen, retracing their steps im-
mediatelv as far as the Evero^reen, where thev
turned off into the rough mountain road that
led up to the cabin of Mandy Snoggs.

In a little Avhile they had plunged into a rho-
dodendron thicket, where the soil was constantly
damp. This and the fact that the roots had not
been cut out, made the climbing hard for '^De-
light," as well as for Reuben, whose stout alpen-
stock was a friend indeed just now.

It was a lovely afternoon ; the heat of the sun,
tempered by the cool breezes that blew fresh
from the cool ravines they were crossing occa-
sionally, made the trip a joy to Marthy. ''De-
light" was too well trained to stumble with so
precious a load as his mistress, who was, proba-
bly, his best friend.

For the first half mile both Reub and !Marthy
were silent. Perhaps the rough road had some-
thing to do with it ; but both were busy thinking.
So far, Reuben had no clear light on the momen-
tous question he had been called upon to decide.

34 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

When tliey reached the first point where the
thicket had been cut out enough for them to get
a view, they stopt. Looking off through the
opening, they got a glimpse of the wondrous sea
of mountains that, as it were, bathed the feet of
Grandfather, towering near at hand.

Away down below the course of the AYestern
^orth Carolina Railroad could be traced, by the
long trail of white smoke, left by a train moving
westward. Here and there heavy smoke lay
above some factory, or some town. To the south,
and much nearer, was the straggling settlement
of Blowing Rock, hanging, as it were, along the
edges of the cliffs that mark the ridge for miles.
The cottages, and even the hotels, gleamed like
toy houses at this distance. One spot of verdant
green, shining out from the blue-green haze that
covered the middle distance, was a glimpse of
the beautiful valley of the John's river.

^^And there," thought Marthy, as she tenderly
gazed towards the valley; ^^there is my home,
and there," as she turned her eyes to the gleam-
ing cottages ; '^there is where my true life began ;
there is where I met Miss Grevson, and I must
turn my back on all of that, if we go !"

Reuben noted the shadow on Marthy's usually
bright face, and looking up from where he had
seated himself to rest, he said cheerily, ^^Come,

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 35

little woman ; this is one of the times when it is
better to work hard than to sit still;" and they
pressed on, the road growing steeper and wilder,
until 'it reached the edge of a small cleared
patch, where stood a rude cabin, surrounded by
an attempt at a garden, and with few apple-trees
around it, rugged with age, and bearing only a
few hard, green apples.

A half-starved hound came out, barking
feebly, and following him came a young woman,
whose appearance there surprised them. It was
Linnie Farnham, one of their especial friends
and co-workers, but who they had not thought
would venture up here.

Linnie Farnham, though younger than Mar-
thy, was also a graduate of Skyland Institute,
and had come home, not only with a mind, but
with a heart trained to take her place among
those whose wish and purpose it was to uplift
their kind. Merry and bright in temperament,
she w^as a general favorite, and, as Marthy said,
had all the ingredients needed to make a fine
preacher's wife some day, if somebody else did
not interfere.

She met them at the gate, and Marthy ex-
claimed, '^'^Why, Linnie, you here ? Why, wdio is
with you ? When did you come ?"

Linnie smiled at Marthy's eager questions,

36 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

and replied, ^^Whj, nobody is with me noAV, but
Mrs. Belvin came over here about noon; Bud
came up with me ; he had to go up on the moun-
tain, and said he would stop by for me as he
came down. I knew Mr. Delton would surely
come up this afternoon, and was pretty sure
you'd come too."

All this was said while Reuben was hitching
^'Delight/' and helping Marthy down.

^^And how's your patient ?" asked Reuben as
they moved towards the cabin together.

^'^Her fever is very high, and she has been
very restless since noon. Oh ! Mr. Delton, I
believe she going to die, and I know she isn't
ready !"

Reub looked into the strong, earnest face of
the girl, with profound admiration for the kind
and brave heart that had prompted her to spend
this day with such a patient as Mandy Snoggs,
and he shuddered at the thought of what she
must have heard from Mandy' s lips, if she was
delirious.

He shook his head sadly, but said, ^'Do you
know that she asked Marthy to ^say over them
words,' referring to John iii. 16, which Marthy
had quoted to her the last time she was at our
house ?"

They entered the hovel, for such it surely

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 37

was. The top of tlie cliimney liad crumbled
away. The square hole that served as the only
window in the house was covered by a faded red
cloth. The large fire-place was filled with the
debris of all the fires the poor creature had built
during the last two months, apparently, and the
few pots, and the old kettle, which constituted all
her supply of kitchen utensils, were on the
hearth.

^N'othing in the way of furniture or comforts
were visible any^vhere, if we except the clean
sheets which Linnie had brought, and which
Mrs. Eelvin had helped her put on the miserable
bed, upon which the poor creature was lying.

They were probably the first luxuries of the
kind that Mandy had ever enjoyed, certainly
since she had lived in this neighborhood.

She was tossina: and moaning when thev came
in. ]\rarthy went immediately to the bedside —

perhaps we should say box-side, for it was no-
thing more than a box turned down, with an
old straw mattress upon it — upon which the
woman lay.

The air of the room, even after all Linnie^s
efforts to purify it, was close and malodorous.

A glance at the sick woman revealed to Mar-
thy that she was in a desperate condition. Her
face, rugged and leather-tinted in health, was

38 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

almost pnrple now; her thin grey hair was
tossed back from her face, and her eyes were
half closed.

'^^ow, Linnie, yon and Reub go outside, and
get the air. Renb walked all the way and is
tired, and he needs to rest."

Marthy always assumed the control of things
in a sick room so quietly that everybody yielded
to her at once.

She took a small bowl from her basket, and a
soft linen cloth, and getting some water, pro-
ceeded to bathe the fevered face and hands.

AVhen she first touched the cool cloth to the
fevered brow, Mandy struck it aAvay.

^^Git away ! Wat you doin' ter me ?" she
cried.

"Why, Mandy," said Marthy gently, "don't
you know me ? Why this is Marthy Delton, and
I'm trying to cool your fever."

The heavy lids lifted a moment, and Mandy
stared into the face bending over her.

"Be you mammie ?" she said with a quiver of
the lips. "O mammie !"

Marthy humored the fancy, and said, "j^ow
let mammie wash your face and hands ;" and, as
is so often the case, the patient yielded quietly
to the nurse's gentle firmness.

Marthy's watchful eyes glanced up from the

Reuben Delton, Preaclier. 39

patient to tlie miserable surroundings, which
this lonely creature had called home for a time,
at least. "^Tio hath made me to differ ?'' she
found herself savinff. ^'What is the reason this
human soul lies here, while my life has been
lived in the sweet mountain manse ?''

Mandy Snoggs had appeared in the neighbor-
hood some years before, and at first had pre-
tended to w^ant work, but she was ill-favored,
and ill-mannered, very reticent about herself,
and even about her name, for a long w^hile, and
it began to be whispered around that she must
be an escaped convict, or jail-bird.

She begged for food and for clothes, and when
she was sent awav without either, would throw
curses behind her like kisses.

'Squire Farnham, who was always ready to
help the poor, compassionated the wretched crea-
ture, and told her that if she would live up at the
cabin she might use it and small patch of ground
around it. Things had come to such a pass with
her that she had to choose between this offer and
the poor-house, and Mandy took possession of
the cabin without any apparent appreciation of
the kindness, excepting that she was never heard
to curse 'Squire Farnham again. She proceeded
to beg right and left in order to furnish the bare
house.

40

Reuben Delton, Preacher.

Most peo^Dle agreed with Jim Mooney, that
there was no good in the woman^ and she met
with little success.

From year to year she had eked out a miser-
able living, by fair means or fonl, and she might
well have said with the Psalmist, ^']^o man cared
for my soul" — at least, she might have said so
until Reub and ]Marthy came. She ap]3eared at
the manse before they had settled down, and had
pried into every part of the house, asking every
conceivable question before the day was over.

Marthy had met poor and miserable people
before, but none of Mandy's type.

"Oh ! Reub," she said, after the woman had
left, "surely our sincerity and charity are to be
put to the test, if we are to entertain this woman.
Why, she has asked me a hundred questions,
some of which I could not answer if I would."

But llarthv never vielded to the feeline; that
seemed so natural, and to-day's visit proved it.

While we have been introducing Mandy
Snoggs to the reader, Reub had been investigat-
ing the spring from which she got her water.
He found it, as he had feared, choked with
leaves, and a drinking place for cattle that were
pastured on the mountain in the summer. This
accounted for the poor creature's fever. She had
not taken the trouble to keep the spring clean.

Reuhen Delton, Preacher. 41

A few moments' work with a hoe made a
material improvement, but could never bring
Mandj Snoggs back to life and health again.

lie was relieved to find that Linnie had not
been using the water from that spring, her
brother having found a clear, clean one higher
up, though further away.

^^ Poor Mandy has drunk her death potion
from that spring, I fear," said Reuben sadly;
^'yes, and it is such conditions that produce the
terrible mortalitv in our beautiful mountains
from typhoid fever. God never intended this
to be so, and I am waging as relentless a war
against impure water and uncleanliness as I am
against sin !"

Marthy was standing in the doorway listening
while he was speaking to Linnie Farnham.

^^Come in and read something from the Bible
to her; she may listen and be able to take in
some word that vou read.''

Reub glanced at his watch and found that it
was a few minutes past four, and reminded Mar-
thy that it would take them every bit of three-
quarters of an hour to get down the mountain.

Then, drawing his testament from his pocket,
he went softlv to the bedside, sat down and read
the inimitable group of parables found in the
fifteenth chapter of Luke, in which our Saviour

42

Reuben Delton, Preacher.

sought to help us rightly to estimate the value of
a human soul.

Marthv lay quiet for a few moments, her
attention evidently arrested by Reub's voice.
She turned her head slowly, and tried to speak,
while a faint smile hovered about her mouth.

Marthy, standing behind Eeub's chair, saw
that she was trying to say something. She put
a spoonful of water into the parched mouth, and
Mandy, after swallowing it, said faintly,
^'Preacher — w'at's — dem — words ?"

Reuben leaned over and listened, but did not
understand her. Marthy, however, whispered
to him quickly, "John iii. 16."

"God so loved the world that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him
should not perish, but have everlasting life,"
repeated Reub, slowly and reverently.

She listened evidently, and though she was so
weak, her mind was clear, for a few moments
later she said, "Me too ?"

"Yes, you too, Mandy. 'Wliosoever,' it says.
You are a sinner. He is the Saviour. He is
willing ; are voii ?"

There was a quiver about the hard mouth, but
she did not speak.

"Pray, Reub !" said Marthy softly, and they
knelt beside the dying woman, and Reub plead

Reuben Delton^ Preacher. 43

for her, and committed to the mercj of him who
died for her.

The whole scene stamped itself ineffacably
upon ]\rarthy's memory. The dying woman, on
her miserable bed, the bare and wretched room
in which her life was passing, the afternoon sun-
light streaming into the open door, the pure
breeze that toyed with the curling hair of Lin-
nie, kneeling near the door ; Eeub's earnest,
uplifted face ; and, to other eyes, her own sweet
face, turned watchfully toward the patient,
would have been seized upon as probably the
most impressive feature of the whole picture.

Eeub uttered but a few short, simple sen-
tences, that a little child might have compre-
hended ; then they rose, and, as she was lying
quiet, they went outside to consult as to who
would care for her during the night.

"Eeub, I am sure that I ought to stay," said
Marthy, quietly ; "you can take care of Greyson.
There is plenty of bread in the house, and all
you need is to make the coffee, which I know
that you can do nicely," she added, with a little
pat on his arm.

"Oh ! then I can stay," said Linnie, eagerly.
"I have wanted to stay all along, but knew
nobody would consent unless some one else
stayed."

44 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

Hevih and Marthj exchanged glances of admi-
ration at Linnie's unselfisli offer.

Reuben hesitated ; indeed, he was really
afraid to leave them here, with no man about.

^^This is the Master's work, preacher; it is
what we vowed to do when we came here/' said
llarthy earnestly.

While thev stood waitins; for Renb's consent,
there was a sound of some one approaching
on horseback, and soon the doctor came in
sight, and hitching his horse, came up to the
cabin.

He was not surprised to see Reuben here, for
he had learned to look for him wherever there
was sickness or trouble, and he had often found
Marthy, too, but he opened his eyes with aston-
ishment when he saw Linnie Farnham.

"You here !" he exclaimed, and Marthy^s
quick eye noted, not only the blending of pleas-
ure and anxiety in his face, but the responsive
flush on Linda's cheek.

'^Well," he said to Marthy, "your religion
takes you all pretty far away from home, Mrs.
Delton."

"It takes us no further than we ought to go,
Dr. Thornly, nor than our Master went to save
and to bless."

"Doctor," said Reub, "these people are asking

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 45

mj consent to stay up here all night; what do
you think of it?"

^^Well, somebody ought to stay, and it looks
like the willin's ones are the right ones. I tell
you ; I've got to go over here on South Fork,
but I'll come back some time in the night ; that
is, if you can give me a snack for supper/'

"We've got meat and bread and coffee enoug'h
to give a party," was the hospitable reply.

"Well, Marthy, you'll have to stay, I reckon.
She's a great little woman. Doctor, if I do say
it," he added, as he smiled down at her and
patted her shoulder caressingly.

Dr. Thornly looked at them earnestly, then
glanced at Linnie Farnham, and Marthy
thought there was a great deal in that glance.

"I might ha' knoAvn you all had been here,
even if you'd got away before I came," the doc-
tor said as he noted the clean sheets, and the
clean clothing on Mandy.

"Don't credit me with all that you see ; Lin-
nie was here when we came, and had put clean
sheets on the bed."

"Yes, and Mrs. Belvin had been before me,
had burnt up the old mattress, and had made a
new one," said Linnie, with a smile and a little
toss of her head, that reserved for Dr. Thornly' s
special benefit.

4-6 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

"So you see, Doctor, there are more of what
you call every-day Christians than yon think."

"The Lord knows, there's need of 'em !" re-
plied the doctor gravely. "I tell yon, Mrs. Del-
ton, the sin an' the misery, and the want that I
come up with a'most every day of my practice
is enough to make a man question what good the
church is doin'. An' when somebody comes
along an' gets to talkin' about the heathen in
foreign parts, I say let's better take care of the
heathen at home ; an' if I had time to tell 'em a
few things that I know, they'd shut up in a
minute, you bet."

"That is all true. Doctor, only too true; but
I will quote my Master's words to you : "These
ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other
undone."

"We cannot escape the Master's command to
go, because there is so much to be done at home.
There are Christians enough for all the work, if
only they would work. The sin of the church
lies just here, that we do not believe strongly
enough that every saved man ought to be a saver.
There are men and women, too, thank God, who
are plainly called to go forth to other lands, as
there are other men and women, like Marthy
and myself, who are as clearly called to stay at
home, and work among their own people." Reu-

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 47

ben glanced quickly at Martliy when he said
this, thinking she might infer that he meant it
literally, but he only paused a moment.

^^I think, therefore,'' he continued, ^'^that
every Christian man and woman is, or ought to
be, a worker; every mountain boy that has
found Jesus the ]\Iessiah should be an Andrew
to lead his brother to Christ, and every doctor"
- — here he fixed his clear grey eyes on Dr.
Thornly — "every doctor in the mountains has
the grandest opportunities for service that I
know of."

Dr. Thornlv looked out throuaii the doorwav
silently. He knew this was so, and as he felt
more and more the stimulating influence of
Reub Delton and his wife, and knew that their
convictions were sufficiently strong to compel
them to live for others in their efforts to be like
Christ, he was more and more conscious of a
desire to be like them. The greatest difficulty
in his way was that he had so long made the in-
consistencies of others an excuse that he was
now afraid to make a profession which he, too,
might not be able to live up to.

The tyj)e of church members he had met, and
the type of preacher, heretofore, had not, as a
rule, been calculated to change his opinions.
With most of them religion meant little more

48

Reuben Delton, Preacher.

than sectarianism, and the Bible seemed to
have much less influence on their lives than the
opinions they had themselves formed, and Avere
all rooted in the conviction — not, alas ! confined
to them — that man's chief end is — to take care
of himself !''

"I must be going," said Renb. Greyson will
grow sleepy and cross, even with his dear
"Betchie." ^

"And I will come down with Linnie in the
morning, as soon as Mrs. Belvin comes to relieve
us. We have all that we need in the wav of
food, and I brought a cup and plate and spoons."

Dr. Thornly went once more to the bedside,
and laid his hand on Mandy's pulse. She lay as
still, almost, as if she was dead, with her eyes
half closed and her mouth open.

"She is very weak now, for the fever is leav-
ing her. She is liable to drop off at any time,"
he said as he stepped softly towards where Mar-
thy and Linnie were standing, near the door.

"I will go now, and come back as soon as I

can

7?

A few minutes later Bob Farnham rode up
and called Linnie out.

"Come out, sis' ; I didn't mean to keep you
waiting so long, but some of the cows had
strayed off."

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 49

"Why, and I'm going to stay up here to-
night. Mrs. Delton is here with me. Mandy
is about to die, and we can't leave her. Mr.
Delton and Dr. Thornly have just gone."

Bob rarnham did not approve of his sister
staying. Mandy had so bad a reputation, and
some of the worst men in the countv had been
known to have been harbored there from time to
time, but Bob held the common opinion of the
neighborhood, that nothing bad could happen
where either of the Delton's were.

"Well, I reckon you'll have to stay; but I
don't know how pa'll like it, and I am bound to

go d0A\Tl."

"Why, the doctor said he was coming back
sometime in the night," said Linnie trying to
look unconcerned.

Bob laughed and winked his eye at his sis-
ter.

"Dr. Thornly's mighty anxious 'bout Mandy,
eh ! sis' ?"

"Isow, Bob ! you stop your foolishness, and
cut us some kindlin' and bring in some wood,
too, before you go," was Linnie' s reply, with a
pretty toss of her head.

"I wonder how she kept in wood, Mrs. Del-
ton ?"

^I guess she uses fence rails, sis', for I know

((-

50 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

there's a lot of 'em missin'/' was Bob's reply to
tlie question.

"Poor woman/' said Martliv, "we wouldn't
have been any better than she is if we had no bet-
ter raising than she had. We oughtn't to forget
that, Bob, when we are judging Mandv, and
now she is going where there will be no mistaken
judgments, and we believe that he who has had
compassion on us will pity her too."

Bob's face had grown very grave, and ho
turned away, and went down the mountain,
thinking of what Marthy had said.

1

CHAPTEK III.

A Strange Visitor.

THAT was a memorable night-watch that
Marthy and Linnie Farnham passed in
the cabin of the dying woman.

The room was really more lighted by the fire
than bv the candle, which, for want of a candle-

o 7 7

stick, they had set np on a board in the corner
of the room, first dropping the hot tallow on the
board to make the candle stand steadily.

As the night came on, the air grew very cold,
and Linnie made a large fire. Then, having first
given the kettle and coffee pot a good scrubbing,
she proceeded to make the coffee for their snj>
per. There was not a table in the house, and
only one decent chair. A dingy, heavy chest,
about four feet long, which they supposed con-
tained clothing, was set on one side the fire
place, and had evidently served as the table on
which poor Mandy had eaten such meals as she
ate at home, for it was greasy, and there were
crumbs of mouldy bread on it.

There was not a whole plate to be found, nor
was there a cup besides the dirty tin cup they

52

Reuben DeUo7i, Preacher.

found on the shelf above the fire place, and had
scrubbed into something like cleanness.

JSTot one of those comfoi-ts, which are found
even in some of the barest homes they had en-
tered, did these young women find here.

"It was well you thoug'ht to bring a cup and
saucer, and spoons, Mrs. Delton. Why I never
knew anybody could live on so little.''

"And, oh ! dear, just think, she is going out
of the world without ever having known the
sweetness and the comfort of a clean, pure home
— without anything that makes a woman self-
respectful, or to help to be what God surely in-
tended everv one of his creatures to be V

"It was her own fault, I reckon ; wasn't it ?"

Linnie did not say this with any lack of pity,
or from any scorn of the miserable creature in
her heart.

"Ah ! there is the terrible thought to me," re-
plied Marthy earnestly; ''was it her fault alto-
gether? Will God not hold every one of us
responsible who might have helped her more,
who might have borne more patiently with her
trying ways, and who might have led her to
Christ ?" Marthy Delton's eyes filled with tears
of pity, and of sincere contrition, as she spoke.

"Oh ! don't say so, Mrs. Delton, please !" ex-
claimed Linnie in low, but earnest, tones. "She

Reuhen Delton, Preacher. 53

was so awful bad when she first came into our
neighborhood that we children were scared to go
near her. She's been better since you came here,
and everybody knows that Mr. Delton and you
have borne more from her than any one else.
I heard pa' talkin' about it when he came back
from the store, and told us Mrs. Belvin said she
was sick."

There was the sound of a moan, and Marthy
went quickly to the bedside. Mandy's eyes were
open, and bending over her Marthy moistened
her lips, and said, "What is it, Mandy ? Here's
Marthy Delton come to wait on you."

In the flickering firelight Marthy must have
seemed an unearthly visitor to the eyes all un-
used to a woman's presence near her.

Gimme-a-drink," she said feebly. Marthy
moved quickly to the fire place, with her finger
on her lip by way of caution to Linnie, then
motioned for a cup of hot milk. She fed the
poor creature with this slowly.

"That tastes good ?" asked Marthy. In reply
the woman tried to nod her head ; then, rallying
her strength, she looked at Marthy earnestly,
and said, "How'd-you-git-here ?"

"Whv, Mr. Delton and I came as soon as we
heard you were sick."

"Wat fur ?"

54 Reuhen Delton, Preacher.

"Because we wanted to help jow, and to wait
on yon."

"I ain't wnth helpin'/' she said, Avith a deep
sigh. Then, touching the cool, clean sheet that
Linnie had put on her bed, she asked, "Wat's
this yer on me?"

"Why, that is a nice, clean sheet that Mrs.
Farnham sent you," answered Marthj^, in her
cheery yoice.

Mandy lay still a moment, with her eyes
closed ; then, opening them suddenly, she asked,
"Be I goin' ter die ?"

Marthy was startled by the question, and did
not know how it might affect the poor creature,
in her present condition, to know the truth, and
yet she dared not deceiye her.

"You are yery sick, Mandy, and the doctor
does not think that you can liye."

"I ain't fitten ter die," she muniiured, with
a groan.

"You need not be afraid to die if you will be-
lieye that Jesus is your Sayiour, and ask him to
saye your soul."

"I hain't neyer don' nothin' fur him. I don'
'low he'd hear me; say dem words ag'in."

Marthy again repeated slowly the wonderful
words of John iii. 16, that haye cheered so many
souls, and the poor creature said, faintly, after
her, "^ot perish — eyerlastin' life."

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 55

"Wat do that mean ?" and Marthv tried to
explain again to her poor clouded mind what
she had told her when she had been in health.

"Oh ! mammie !" she nttered again.

"Where is Your mammie ?" asked Marthv, for
no one knew where this poor waif had come
from, or where her kindred were.

"Dead, I reckon."

"AVhere was your home?" Marthv bent over
her to catch the answer.

"Over in Tennessee " she answered restlessly.
Evidentlv it disturbed her to talk of her own
affairs. Her fever was rising, and ]\Iarthy
feared the delirium would come on again, and
her last opportunity to turn the eyes of the dying
woman to Christ.

Some would say. Let her alone ; but Marthy's
strong convictions of the necessity of a confes-
sion of Christ, and her strong faith in the simple
look of faith, made her sure she was right to say
once more, "Mandy, Jesus died to save you.
Can't you take him for vour Saviour ? Then he
has promised to be with you in death."

"I kin trust him, but kin he trust me?" she
answered, turnino- her eves to Marthv, with
more intellioence in her face than she had vet
shown. "You don' know me, Marthy Delton ; I
'ain't wuth savin' !"

56 Reuhen Delton, Preacher.

"Jesus does not save us because we are worth
saving, but just because be loves to save. The
best of us can't be saved, except by trusting in
bim. Can't vou do tbat?"

Mandy tried to smile, and to sj^eak, but only
said the word, "Sing !"

Marthy laid her hand on the rough, ill-shapen
one that was restlessly catching at the covering,
and began to sing softly —

" I am so glad that our Father in heaven
Tells of his love in the Book he has given;
Wonderful things in the Bible I see,
This is the dearest, that Jesus loves me.

I am so glad that Jesus loves me,

Jesus loves even me!

"Oh! if there's only one song I can sing.
When in his beauty I see the great King;
This shall my song in eternity be,
Oh! what a wonder that Jesus loves me!

I am so glad that Jesus loves me,

Jesus loves even me!"

Mandy lay quietly, and seemed to have fallen
asleep, and Marthy rose and went over to the
fire place to take the cup of coffee which had
been ready for her before she had gone to
Mandv's side.

She looked at her watch, and found that it
was onlv a little after ten o'clock. She was
speaking to Linnie in a whisper, when suddenly

Reuhen Delton, Preacher. 57

they heard a low growl from the dog, which lay
curled in the corner of the fire place. Then
there were sounds of stealthy footsteps, and Lin-
nie's face blanched with fear, for these sounds
were not at the door, hut at the small window
not far from where she was sitting.

Marthy's heart throbbed wildly for a moment,
for she knew all that had been said about
Mandy's harboring the worst men in the county,
but she sent a swift prayer to heaven, and who
doubts that it was heard ?

She said aftei^vards that she was conscious of
an immediate answer, for the throbbing of her
heart subsided, though, when she looked towards
the window, she saw the faded curtain lifted
cautiously by a rough hand, and directly a wild
face looked in.

Without a moment's forethought, without a
moment's hesitation, she placed her finger on her
lips, as a sign to the man to be quiet, just as
she would have done to Reub or to the doctor,
and said in low tones, and with perfect self-
control, ^^Please come 'round to the door, if you
want anything. Mandy Snoggs is very sick, and
if you startle her, it might kill her."

The man was evidently taken aback by this
cool and friendly speech, as well as by these
unusual guests in Mandy's cabin.

58 Eeuhen Delton, Preacher.

He stared at Martliv, and at the top of Liii-
nie's head, which was all he could see of her.
The poor girl was sitting with her hands clasped
in her lap, and her eyes shut tight with fear.

The door was partly open for ventilation, but
thev had closed the window to keep out the cold
mists that came down the mountain.

After the unwelcome visitor had looked from
the watchers to the bed, and then into the dusky
part of the room, he disappeared, and in another
moment was at the door.

"Don't let liim see that vou are frightened,
Linnie, our lives may depend upon our cool-
ness," ]\Iarthy had whispered, as he left the
window.

She went towards the door, as he aj^peared,
and said, "What do vou want ? Mandv has
typhoid fever, and Ave are nursing her. I am
Marthy Delton, the preacher's wife, and that is
'Squire Farnham's daughter, and Dr. Thornly
will be here in a little while. I am sorrv," she
said, as she saw him lift his foot to come in ; "I
am sorry I can't ask you to come in." Marthy
even smiled as she said it, Linnie said after-
wards ; "but I can give you something to eat and
some coffee."

In all his wild career, Dan Ruger had never
met with such an experience. It actually took

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 59

every bit of his braggadocio from him. He was
ashamed for the first time in his life !

'^You're a plucky one, sartain/' he said, smil-
ing at Marthy. "You-uns's got some kinder
weepons that hain't never been turned on me
befo'j and' I swar I don' know how ter git even
wid ye !"

He looked behind him a moment, and lis-
tened, then he said, "You're afeerd fur me to
come in, but you're too plucky ter say so ; I come
here fur grub, an' fur ter git warm, an' ter
sleep too, but ef Mandy's do^^m wid ther fever,
I don' want ter stay, particklar ef you say true
that Thornly's comin'. Xot as I'm afeerd of
him," he added quickly, as if Marthy's courage
had quickened his own," but he'll set some houn'
on my tracks. You-uns give me ther grub an'
I'll go, but I'd like mightily ter git warm fust."
He looked towards the fire and shivered.

"I'm sorry," said Marthy, as she turned to
get something for him to eat ; then she looked at
him fearlessly out of her pure brown eyes, and
said gently, "I'm sorry you have no home to go
to. God never meant for any man to be home-
less."

The light of evil passion and of defiance
flashed up in the man's face, but the unseen
Presence beside Marthy kept them as effectually

60 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

in check as if he had been in chains. His eye
drooped before the pure and fearless look in the
face before him. Martliy gave him a handful
of bread and meat, and a cup of coffee, with an
expression of pity in her face that was almost
divine. He took the food, almost sullenly ; then
said, ^^I was goin' ter say, it's none of your busi-
ness, but maybe it is, for you think so. But
you're the fust person as has had a kind word
fur me in ten years," and he giilped down
the coffee, as if to hide some unwonted emo-
tion.

^^Whose fault is it?" asked Marthy gently,
and then before he could reply, she added,
"Come down to our house ; Preacher Helton is
everybody's friend, and will give you many a
kind word."

"ISTo !" he answered bitterly ; "every one of
you'd hand me over ter the sheriff if you could
git a chance. I never did take no stock in
preachin' no how, but your religion's a horse of
another color."

Just then Mandy's moan made the man start.
He bent his head and listened intently, and his
keen ear must have detected some sound, for he
handed the cup quickly to Marthy, and in an-
other minute was gone.

Five minutes later Hr. Thornly was hitching

Beuhen Delton, Preacher. 61

his liorse at the fence, little dreaming that he
had come in answer to prayer.

He came quickly to the cabin, more anxions
than he would have acknowledged, for the safety
of the two brave women there.

He tapped softly, but the dog had already
given warning of the approach of some one, and
both Marthy and Linnie were standing with
their faces anxiously turned to the door when
he looked in.

"Come in !" beckoned Marthy, with a smile
of more than ordinary welcome on her face, and
to which Linnie Farnham did not hesitate to add
her own.

"You never were as welcome in your life,
Doctor, I know," said Marthy in hearty tones.

Dr. Thornly saw that something had occurred
of more than ordinary interest, and, looking
from one to the other, h© asked, "What's the
matter V^

He glanced towards the bed ; a moan proved
to him that Mandy was still living.

"Go, see how Mandy is first, then sit down
and get warm, while we tell you of our adven-
ture."

When he returned from the bedside, he took
the only chair strong enough to bear his power-
ful figure, and while Linnie made his coffee

(i^ Beuhen Delton, Preacher.

Martlij told him in a few words of tlieir ad-
venture.

He listened with intense interest, glancing up
occasionally to the little window behind them.

"Xow describe him, please, Mrs. Delton.''

^'AVell, he was tall and thin, with black hair,
and a shaggy beard, and monstache that seemed
faded in color, by comparison with his hair.
His eyes seemed black. He wore a faded, rag-
ged suit of jeans, and over it a curious garment,
evidently made bv himself; it seemed just a
blanket with holes cut in it for his arms and
head. His hat was tied down over his ears with
a red handkerchief."

^^Well, well ! I say!" exclaimed Dr. Thornlv;
"if you all haven't been interviewing the worst
fellow in the country. Why, it was Dan Ruger,
sure !"

His face actually paled as he said this.

"Why, he generally goes armed to the teeth,
as the savin' is, and whv he didn't murder both
of you, or run off with one of you, God knows."

"I think I know why," said Marthy gently.
"God surely heard the prayer that went up as
quickly as a telegraphic message, when that
face looked in at the window. Oh ! Dr. Thornly,
don't you believe that?"

The doctor looked gravely into the fire when

Reuhen Delton, P readier. 6^

MartliY questioned liim so pointedly, tlien an-
swered thonghtfully, ^'I surely ought to believe
it now, if I never did before. But, Mrs. Delton,
I am not sure that it is safe for you all to stay
up here the rest of the night, even if I stay w^ith
you. There's no telling what Dan Huger may
do. He may have just gone off to get some other
fellows to return with him."

Linnie who was kneeling on the hearth, and
pouring the coffee, set down the pot and cup, her
hands trembled, and she glanced uneasily at
Marthy.

"Why, Dr. Thornly ! leave that poor, dying
creature alone, and after we came up here to
prove our love to the Master, to desert her just
from fear I Besides, I have no fear now. I be-
lieve that I won his respect; he w411 not harm
us. Do not ask us to go."

The man looked into Marthv's earnest, brave
face, and — as he said afterwards — saw what
religion was good for from that time.

"Well, we'll all stay and risk it together," he
replied, as he took the cup of coffee from Lin-
nie's hand.

It was fully twelve o'clock when Dr. Thornly
finished the lunch they had prepared for him.

Mandy Snoggs' life was near its close. Occa-
sionally, as the night wore on, the doctor stepped

64

Beiiben Delion, Preacher.

to the bedside, testing the dying woman's pulse,
and her temperature.

Marthy and Linnie had improvised a seat by
throwing a shawl over the small pile of wood,
and had given the only safe chair to the doctor.

The wind had risen, and whistled around the
open cabin, as if it was ISTovember.

Everv sound from outside cauo'ht Dr. Thorn-
ly's attention, so confidently did he expect Dan
Ruger with reinforcements ; but he never came,
and Marthv's faith was confirmed.

A little after day had dawned, poor Mandy
passed from the scene of all her sin and wretch-
edness. Marthy believed that in her poor, crude
way, this woman, who was a sinner, had accepted
Jesus as her Saviour. Who can tell what goes
on between the soul and its Maker in those hours
when the body is under the power of disease ?

Once she had roused out of the stupor, and
had murmured the words, "Even — me !'' Evi-
dentlv she had causrht the last words of the
hymn that had been sung to her.

A half hour later, as Marthv stood in the door-
way of the cabin, and looked out on the glory
of the fair summer morning, with the flush of
sunrise on its beautiful face, and the songs of
birds greeting her ear, while the fresh breeze
fanned her face, she could but think the scene

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 65

was typical of the exchange Mandy's spirit had
made, from its grimed and sin-marred dwelling
to the glory and beauty of heaven.

Two neighbors came in not long afterwards,
and Dr. Thornly urged on Marthy and Linnie to
go at once, as they needed rest.

'^Everything in the house ought to be burned.
This was a bad case of fever from the first."

'^Shall we open the chest? There may bo
something there worth saving,'' said Marthy.

Linnie remembered that when she had put
the gown on Mandy, she had seen a string about
her neck, and she spoke of it as the doctor
doubted whether they could get the box opened.

Marthy went to the bed, and touching rever-
ently the dead woman, saw the string, and draw-
ing it out, found a key.

Opening the box with difficulty, because the
padlock was so rusty, they found within a few
pieces of ragged clothing, and a mixture of little
trinkets, Christmas cards, and common rings.
A small bag, found inside of an old shoe, con-
tained about ten dollars in money. Two faded
ferrotypes, one of a good-natured middle-aged
man, the other of a rather pretty, round-faced
girl, adorned with a bright smile, and an abun-
dance of cheap jewelry; had scrawled on their
backs, 'Mim" and "Mandy." There was noth-

6(5 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

I ^

ing else to tell the woman's story, l^o clue to
her home, her name, her people

And so ended the life of this lone mountain
woman, unwej)t, save for the pitying tears that
filled the eyes of Marthy Delton, as she looked
on the face for the last time. She went do^Tn
the mountain wondering how many such lonely,
neglected lives are hidden away in the caves and
valleys of the mountains that look so blue and
fair, as one gazes at them only as a part of the
marvellous summer landscape, but which are
really teeming with life and with possibilities
of service for God's children !

CHAPTER IV.

Kindness Recipkocated.

AS Mar thy went down the mountain with
Linnie Farnham, tired and worn from
the night's vigil and from the excitement of
their adventure, there was one thing that
wanned her heart as the sunshine now breaking
through the fogs warmed her body ; it was the
consciousness of having soothed the last hours of
poor Mandy Snoggs. She did not allow herself
to be troubled as to Mandy's salvation. Reub
and herself had tried to lead her to the Savior,
and she now committed her to that mercy which
is so ready to save.

Her heart was full of gratitude for having
been allowed the privilege of serving her Master,
even through such a sinner as this one. And the
trust and peace that comes with service so filled
hor mind that she had reached 'Squire Farn-
ham's gate before she had given a thought to the
momentous question that Reuben and she had
been called on to settle.

Mrs. Farnham, with the wonted miountain
hospitality, would fain have had her ^^come in

68 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

and eat and rest awhile." But not only was
Greyson at home and Renben obliged to wait for
her in order to make the arrangements for
Mandy's funeral, but she felt that she must be
alone and have time to think of their o^vn af-
fairs.

It was now late in August, the Presbytery
met the last of September, and both Reuben and
Marthy felt that they ought to know their own
minds as to this suggested change before the
meeting of Presb}i:ery.

Some one had told them of the plan of the
venerable Rev. W. S. Plummer when called
upon to decide perplexing questions. It was his
custom to take a sheet of paper, and, carefully
dividing it into two columns, to write over one
"Pros," and over the other "Cons." He then
kneeled and devoutly asked for wisdom to de-
cide the matter rightly. After this he rose to
write down under each head the sensible reasons
for and against the step, and invariably decided
to adopt that side on which there were most
reasons for action. He never allowed himself
afterwards to regret the step, or to doubt that
he had been divinely guided, even when things
seem to turn out unf avorablv.

They had been much impressed with the sim-
plicity and faith manifested in this plan, and

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 69

resolved to try it; so that evening when supper
was over and their little boy asleep, Reub drew
his chair up by the table near which Marthy
was busily knitting and said :

"Marthy, don't you think it is time we were
studying what the Master means us to do about
this call V

Marthy looked up with a smile, though there
was still a shade of sadness on her bright face.
She laid her knitting down, and drawing a writ-
ing tablet from under a book that lay near her,
she handed it to her husband.

The page had already been ruled, and the
headings, "Pros" and "Cons" written down.
Eeuben smiled, for it was so like Marthy, to get
things ready in this quiet manner. Probably
Reuben hardly recognized then how great a
blessing Marthy's quietness was to him, but in
later years he not only felt it, but often spoke of
how much he owed to his wife's quiet faith.
She never fretted, because she believed so firmly
that even the small threads of little worries were
woven into the plan of God's providence.

He drew the paper to him, and then they
knelt, and he asked for that wisdom which God
in his wondrous love had promised to those who
believe.

"Help us not to waver in our faith ! Help us

TO

Reuben Delton, Preacher.

to see thee, and not ourselves and our own com-
fort. Make a plain path for our feet, O Lord !"
— so lie prayed, and tlie voung preacher and his
wife rose from their knees with peace in their
hearts, the peace that conies from a surrendered
will and the true spirit of obedience.

Then with a smiling face Marthy rolled up
her work, put it in her basket, and addressed
herself to the task of deciding the ^'Pros" and
"Cons" of this important question. Here were
the reasons they wrote down for and against
leaving Wautauga, and they incidentally throw
much light on the characters of Reuben Deltoii
and of his wife :

Pro.

1. The very fact that it
is so hard suggests that
selfishness is stirred.

2. They need a mountain
man with a wife and some
experience, both of which
I have.

3. Every call to a Chris-
tian for harder work and
more self-denial is the Mas-
ter's call.

4. God calls many men
to sow, but does not let all
reap what their own hands
have sown.

5. We have so few hard-

CON.

1. We have not been here
long enough to give this
work into other hands.

2. There are other moun-
tain men in the ministry.
Why should they rob Wau-
tauga to pay Yancey?

3. Sometimes God tests
his children by a call he
does not mean them to ac-
cept in order to try their
spirit.

4. These people love us,
and we have more and
more influence with them.

5. The visitors help us.

Reuben Delton, P readier.

71

and we help tliem, by put-
ting them in touch with
bhe work.

6. Grey son ought to
know the sweetness of a
comfortable home.

7. This is our home, our
first home. God gave it to
us. It is right that we
should love it and want to
stay here.

ships here we may be lack-
ing in the spirit of self-de-
nial the Master wants.

6. The interruption in
our work by the presence
of the summer visitors is
injurious to us.

7. The work here is
God's work. We must not
think it would stop because
we leave.

8. If God is testing our
love and spirit of obedi-
ence, we have no right to
refuse to stand the test.

9. We are called to en-
dure hardness as good sol-
diers. We dare not then
refuse this call, "Come over
and help us!"

It is easy to see that Marthy had taken as
her work the putting down of the reasons
against going away. It was as if the soul and
heart were making the record for both. And
as Reuben's reasons grew stronger and stronger
and multiplied, Marthy could restrain her tears
no longer. She put down the tablet, and, lean-
ing her head on the table, she burst into a fit of
weeping. Reuben putting his ann about her
waist, leaned his head on the table beside hers
and wept too.

They both felt that the reasons for their going

72

Ueuhen Delton, Preacher.

were stronger than tlie reasons for staying,
thoiigli some people might have differed — people
not so alert to restrain self, not so satisfied as
they were that '^the Christian life is a life
against nature."

After a few moments Marthy, always the first
to regain control over herself, lifted her head,
and, wiping her eyes with her apron, laid her
hand gently on Reuben's shoulder and said in
a voice tremulous with emotion : '^Preacher, we
mustn't forget the covenant we made when we
were married, that we Avould never give up any-
thing we could do for the Lord because it was
too hard, nor that other covenant we made when
baby came, that we would never let him be our
excuse for nee'lectins: anv work, and that we
would teach him obedience and unselfishness as
soon as he could understand us. God is surely
testing us now !"

"That's so, little wife! I feel that this call
has more to do with our spiritual life and growth
than it has, perhaps, with the work over the
mountains. We are God's workers. Maybe he
sees that we are going to be spoiled here, though
we may not see it. You see, all these summer
boarders that knew us, and a good many this
season that didn't know us, have praised us and
our work, and have helped us, until I reckon

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 73

the Lord knew that we were having too easy a
time for our good."

^^It depends on where yon stand whether a
person's life looks easy or hard," said Marthy,
sadly. "From where the summer hoarders see
ns we do not seem to have much of an easy time,
hut I reckon poor Mandy Snoggs must have
thought we lived in clover."

"Well, we have looked at the matter the hest
we know how, from our standpoint,' Marthy,
and if it is left to us, we know how we will de-
cide now, I reckon. But you know Presbytery
has a voice in the matter, and the best thing for
us to do now is to cast our burden on the Lord,
and wait to hear what the brethren will say."

"O Reub ! what do vou reckon that Miss
Greyson '11 say ?"

"Something sensible and kind that'll
strengthen us for whatever is before us, you
may be sure."

"Well, I know I need strengthening and cheer-
ing, and I mean to write to her to-morrow, but
I need sleep more than anything else right
now."

Marthy rose as she spoke and went to the
door, as was her custom, to say good night to the
view, as she expressed it.

As she ojDened the door a flood of moonlight

74 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

fell upon ber. The full moon was well up in
the skv, and shone upon a white sea of mist in
which the space for a few hundred yards from
the house seemed the only land visible. Still-
ness reigned every^vbere, save for the occasional
tinkle of a distant bell telling of some still wake-
ful sheep.

From the nasturtiums and pansies under her
windows came the delicate fragrance Marthy
loved so well, and as she enjoyed it by some
subtle association, she found herself reminded
of the dreary cabin of Mandy Snoggs — lonely
and deserted to-night, for the neighbors had re-
moved the bodv to a house a mile further down
the mountain, preparatory to the funeral the
next day.

A pitying thought stole into Marthy's heart
for the poor outlaw who had given them such a
scare, and then she remembered that she had not
vet told Reub of her adventure.

tj

She turned toAvards her husband and said,
"Preacher, were you conscious of praying spe-
cially for me last night V^

Reuben looked up from his book. "Why,
Marthy ?" Before she could reply, he added,
"I felt considerably nervous about you and Lin-
nie spendin' the night up there, but I knew Dr.
Thornly 'd go back — didn't he ? and I knew

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 75

some woman folks ought to stay, and that no-
body but my little wife had faith enough to stay
with Linnie. "Yes, dear, I prayed very spe-
cially for you, but, somehow, about ten o'clock
I felt so relieved, so sure that God would pro-
tect you, I just quit prayin' and fell asleep."

Marthy's face wore a look of triumph as she
recounted the story of Dan Ruger's visit, for
she felt that she was only illustrating the subject
of answered prayer.

"N"ot but that I believe that God would have
protected me whether you had prayed or not, but
I do love to think he wants us to pray just to
show our dependence. Reub, I felt just as if I
was using one of those 'phones they have over at
Blowing Rock when I uttered that quick prayer
in my heart, and it seemed to me I could almost
hear the answer come back, "I will keep
thee."

Reuben really looked alarmed when Marthy
told of her asking Ruger to come to their house,
for he knew better than Marthy what a desper-
ado the man was, and how it seemed at times as
if he was almost possessed with the devil. But
Marthy's faith in Ruger's appreciation of her
kindness could not be shaken.

The next dav Reuben held the funeral ser-
vices of Mandy Snoggs at Evergreen Church,

76 . Reuhen Delton, Preacher.

and they laid her awaj in the lonely little grave-
yard on the mountain side.

He had made it an occasion for preaching of
the love of God for sinners. He called atten-
tion to the fact that it was God who had put it
into the hearts of good women to comfort the
dying hours of this poor outcast, and added
that she had given them evidences of her re-
pentance and faith.

^^But oh ! friends and neighbors," he said, his
fine, strong face lighting with a blended expres-
sion of intense and tender pleading with a touch
of scorn, ^^don't let us wait until the last of lives
spent in self-seeking and sin, and then bring to
the loving and holy God a few feeble hours or
days without a single act of loving service in re-
turn for all that he has given us !"

''Suppose you should promise me a bushel of
apples, and then should wait until the apples
were nearly all rotted before you brought them ?
What would I think of you ? what would you
think of yourselves ? God is very merciful, and
waits a long time on many sinners, but he is
calling you to-day, now. Won't you come to
him now? Take him as your Redeemer and
Savior now. Won't you ?"

Reuben's fine grey eyes were full of tender
feeling, the color in his cheeks was deepening.

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 11

and as his voice, peculiarly full and mellow,
rang out in this pleading, in which his very
heart was pouring itself out for the salvation of
the souls of these people, he little thought
that in the rhododendron thicket behind the
church it fell upon the ears of the outlaw, Dan
Ruger !

The poor fellow had seen the wagon contain-
ing Mandy's coffin as it wended its way down the
rough mountain road, and had followed, lured
by curiosity, as closely as he dared. He knew
what Mandy had been better than most people,
and he was amazed to find these Christian peo-
ple not only had nursed her carefully in her
sickness, but were preparing to give her a decent
burial.

He was familiar with every foot of the moun-
tain around Evergreen Church, knew every one
of the devious paths that traversed the laurel
thickets, through many of which one could only
advance on all fours.

To-day there was away down in the lonely,
wretched heart of Dan Ruger a strange desire
to get nearer to Christian people. He wanted to
hear what Reub Delton would say of Mandy,
and he crept cautiously to the edge of the thicket
while the services were going on.

"The' ainH a head of 'em — ^men er women —

78 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

that wouldii' drop ev'ything ter git a chance at
me ef some of them honn' dogs gits a seent."

He lay flat, with his pistol cocked, and lis-
tened. He expected to hear the preacher tell of
the wickedness of Mandj's past life, and of the
hell that she had assnredlj gone to. Also of
many others who were following her. He would
not have been surprised to have heard his o^vn
name mentioned in connection with his visit to
the cabin of Mandy the previous night, and
when the services progressed and he heard only
of God's love to sinners, and his long-suffering
kindness to them, and at the last Reuben's elo-
quent j)leading with those Christ died to save,
he began to be filled with surprise.

^'That's a curious fellar. It sounds like he
b'lieves what he says, too. I'm gittin' mighty
tired of this yere bein' hounded aroun' like an
ole cat — out nights an' days, sneaking w'at little
grub I eat. Ef I wus ter git a chance I might"
— he stopped a moment, and the scowl which
had faded from his brow loured once more, and
he muttered, ^'Yes, but ther's a price on me right
now, an' ef I wus to go near, even this yer
preacher, they'd nab me fur ter git ther
money."

Just then there was the sound of singing —
a strangely unfamiliar sound to Dan Ruger.

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 79

He heard the words of the simple old hymn
that had seemed to comfort Mandy's dying

heart — •

" I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves even me!"

^'Even me ! that's ther word as would be hard
fur me ter believe. I can't quite swaller that.
Hit don mean no sich trash as me, though.
Ther only kin words I've heerd sence I wus a
baby was ther words that Delton woman said ter
me th' other night."

There was a strange choking sensation in
Dan Ruger's throat, and something in his eyes
that made it hard for him to see.

The simple service in the church was over,
and they were bringing the coffin to lay Mandy
Snoggs in her last resting place in the grave-
yard on the mountain side.

Dan Ruger did not wait to see any more. He
knew that he was rimning a desperate risk of
being discovered, so he crawled back through
the narrow path made by the wild hogs through
the laurel thicket until he came out where he
was safe, then he took to the mountain torrent
that came dashing down a ravine, and, jumping
from rock to rock, he ascended the stream to
his hiding place two miles above Evergreen
Church.

80 Eeuhe7i Delton, Preacher,

He ate his rough meal cooked in the cave
that had given him shelter for two years, and
then, actuated for the first time in many a year
by the desire to do a kindness to somebody, he
went out on a search for game.

"Ef I kin git a good sized gobbler, I'd take it
do^vn ter ther preacher's house to-night an'
leave it thar fur that little woman to pay her
fur say in' them words over at Mandy's. I kin
jest slip it down by ther door an' nobody 'd ever
know who done it."

He laughed to himself as he pushed his way
through the laurels to a favorite hunting ground
for pheasants.

Dan Ruger was a fine shot, and he had not
gone far before he had brought do^vn two fine
pheasants. He returned to the cave, and, tak-
ing from a ledge in the back a sheet of coarse
and soiled letter paper, and from his pocket the
stub end of a pencil, he sat down outside and
scrawled in a large and not very legible hand :

Miss Delton.
a peksant.

This he folded and put into his pocket, and
then, having cleaned and loaded his pistol
again, he destroyed all signs of the fire he had
made for his afternoon meal, and, going to a

Eeuben Delton, Preacher. 81

ledge of the rocky precipice just above his cave,
he looked around to see what time of the after-
noon it was.

^^Sich as rne caint go travellin' by daylight/'
he said to himself with bitterness. "We've got
to wait like other wil' beasts, to prowl at night."

Then he remembered Marthy's speech about
his not having a home. Seated on the rocky
ledge, and, gazing out over the wide view, he
began to think of his life. He could hardly re-
member when he began his evil career. He
could scarcely remember when he had known
what home meant.

"Ef I'd a had a mother er a sister er a wife
like her, I'd not been a sneakin' roun' waitin'
fur night even ter do a good thing."

He looked down on a vallev that followed the
winding river. The sun was just setting, the
light cloud that hung like a canopy above old
grandfather was full of golden glory. The sky
up to the zenith was of that clear and brilliant
blue that seems peculiar to the late afternoon
skies of this region.

Down in the vallev a little cabin home was
visible, and from the chimney curled the pale
blue smoke. Peace seemed to reign everyr^^here.
Something of it stole into the seared heart of
the outlaw, but only for a moment ; then his

82 Eeuhen Delton, Preacher.

liaiicl tightened its grasp of his pistol, a des-
perate light flashed into his eyes.

" 'Tain't no nse fnr me to be wishin' fur a
home, nnr thinkin' of livin' hones'-like an' civil.
Ther law's arter me, an' I'll never be no jail
bird, w'ich I'm bonn' ter be ef I go doT\m frnm
here. The bes' thing I kin do is ter blow my
brains ont an' be done with it." He drew his
pistol from his belt, and for one moment the
life of Dan Rnger trembled in the balance, but
in the next he thought of Marthy Delton's kind
words, and the recollection of his plan to take
the pheasants down to her, actually turned the
whole course of Dan Ruger's wild life without
his ever suspecting it. He put the pistol back
and muttered, "One more day won't matter, an'
I'm a goin' ter feed Preacher Delton and his
wife one time 'fore I leave this yere blasted ole
worl !"

He turned and climbed down the precipitous
cliff and began to follow the stream as far
down as he dared go before it w^as dark. He
avoided the frequented paths, yet was ever draw-
ing nearer the mountain manse.

A half mile from the house, just above the
small clearing of the Delton farm, there was
a spring that Reub and Marthy had found and
cleaned out. And by cutting away a few

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 83

branches of the laurels thev could get a pretty
view of their home.

It was a favorite resort on Sunday evenings
when Reuben came home from preaching soon
enough, and from that spot there often floated
down to the valley homes the sounds of sing-
ing.

^^That's the preacher and Marthy at ther
spring," some one would say as the clear, sweet
tones of their voices were borne to them on the
evening breeze.

To this spring Dan Ruger had made his way.
He heard the sound of the water, but could
barely see the path that led from it in the direc-
tion of the manse.

He stood still and listened. It was too late
for anyone to be coming to the spring for water,
but he was so used to being on the watch that
he did not think of it.

"Suj^pose the preacher was ter come; I don'
'low that a man that was married ter that
woman 'ould be a coward," he thought. "She
wouldn' be afeerd, I know, but they might tell
on me."

Everything was so still that he sat down, but
with his hand on the pistol and his ear straining
for the sound of approaching footsteps.

The valley was filling with mists; the after-

84 Ueiiben Delion, Preacher.

glow had faded from the sky, and the stars
were coming out rapidly.

Ruger listened for the barking of dogs down
at the manse. He knew the barking of a dog
would betray him as he approached the house,
but if they kept a dog, it was in-doors, for every-
thing was quiet.

He could see the lights in the house, and once
or twice there were figures passing between the
window and the light.

Into that heart which was considered only
evil and callous there stole a feeling of loneli-
ness, an aspiration after a better life, that is
surely to be found at sometime in every human
heart.

He felt a strange desire to go into a good man's
home and to see what religion did for it. But-
he was sure that he would be delivered quickly
into the sheriff's hands if he attempted such a
thing.

He stretched himself on the ground, doubling
his old blanket about him, for the night was
growing chill. When the lights were out and
everything quiet, he planned to take the pheas-
ants down for Marthy.

The only sounds that broke on the stillness
now was the droning of the locusts and the oc-
casional note of a wakeful cat-bird. He rose

Beuhen Delton, Preacher. 85

and went cautiously down the path, to the barn-
yard, creeping along the outside of the fence, and
yet drawing slowly nearer and nearer to the
house. At last he made a dash across the road,
now lying in the bright moonlight, and, making
his way as deftly as an Indian along the side
fence, he crossed in the heavy shadow of the
house, approached the back porch cautiously,
and laid the pheasants on the floor, sticking the
paper on them Avith a thorn he had cut by the
way.

In another moment he had crossed the fence
again, and was just about to cross the road to
the barnyard fence when he heard the sound of
Avheels and of horses' feet a short distance down
the road ! In an instant he was lying flat on the
ground in the shadow of the fence.

Some belated wagoners returning from Blow-
ing Rock or, perhaps, Lenoir had given him this
surprise, and little did they dream as they drove
sleepily along in the moonlight that in the
shadow of Preacher Delton's fence a gam was
cocked in the hands of Dan Ruger the outlaw !

When they were entirely out of sight, Ruger
rose, dashed quickly across the road, and was
soon lost in the laurel thicket beyond the spring.

M

CHAPTEE V.

The Victory of Love.

AKTHY! Marthy! look here, won't

you r

There was such a tone of surprise m
Reuben's voice that his wife put down what she
was doing and ran to the hack door. There lay
the pheasants, and Reuben handed the paper to
her with its rude scrawling address.

"Who do you suppose did this ? It must have
been somebody who came after we were asleep."
Reuben said, ''Almost anybody in the neighbor-
hood would ha' wanted to own to having killed
such a fine pair of birds as these. O Reub !
do you think it might be that wild fellow we
saw up at Mandy's."

Reuben's brow clouded, and he said, somewhat
impatiently, "I'd rather not have him get
friendly, Marthy ; he is a dangerous fellow, and
I don't want him coming about here. Maybe
he's been at some mischief over at the barn-
yard and has left these to pay. From all I hear
of him, he is dare-devil enough to do just that."

He lifted the bucket as he finished speaking
and went to the barnyard to do his milking.

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 87

Marthy had not replied to him, hut when he
came hack and reported everything intact,
Marthy said to him, "Preacher, mayhe God
means us to try to save this poor fellow hefore
we leave Wantnga. I cannot forget how sur-
prised and touched he seemed by my speaking
kindly to him the other night. Maybe there's
some good in him that we are to bring out.
Maybe he is to be saved by kindness." She began
to sing softly:

" Down in the human heart,

Crushed by the tempter,
Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;

Touched by a loving heart,

Wakened by kindness.
Clouds that were broken will vibrate once more."

Marthy did not mean to be dramatic, but the
words were just suited to express her thought,
and it was as easy to sing them as to say them.
But there was something in the rich, full tones
of her voice, in the earnestness and enthusiasm
in her face that moved her husband profoundly.
Her ceaseless desire, and her watchfulness to
save souls, gave her a hopefulness that seemed
unquenchable, all of which he felt was the re-
sult of her child-like faith in the r>romises of
God.

'That may be so, little wife," he said, thought-

(('

88 Reuben Delton, Preacher^-

fiillv. ^^God grant that it may be. It takes yon
to look at things that way. I'm afraid I was
only seeing Dan Rnger from the standpoint of a
Wantanga citizen."

Breakfast over, Reuben addressed himself to
the work of replying to the letters he had re-
ceived from his brethren.

^'It is one of those things that do not get
easier to do for being postponed/' he said to
Marthy, as he got his writing materials and pre-
pared to finish his letters, and to leave his
ploughing till afternoon.

When he had finished the letters, and they
had read them over together, Renb laid them on
the mantel and went out to the field with a light-
ness of heart that he could hardly understand
himself until he recalled the marginal reading
of the fifth verse of the thirty-seventh Psalm.

"Roll thy way on the Lord, trust also in him."
Yes," he thought, "that is it. I have done my
little part, now I just roll this burden on the
Lord ; it is too heavy for me, and if I can only
Svait on the Lord and be of good courage,' my
heart will be strengthened."

He was unconscious of what others had often
noticed, that he had that power of letting the
burdens alone that he had rolled upon the Lord.

In a little while Marthy heard his merry

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 89

whistle from the home lot, where he was plough-
ing, and, catching the contagion, she sang over
her wash tuh. So true is it that cheerfulness as
well as laughing is catching.

By three o'clock he was oif on some of his
work among the sick and wretched far back in
the coves, where he had found much need, both
spiritual and temporal.

Homes — ah ! how may one venture to call by
that sacred name the miserable hovels where
vice and squalor reign ? Where all that makes
home attractive is wanting, and where many are
born and grow to manhood, and even to age,
and die without having heard of God and
Christ !

Marthy had often accompanied Reub on his
visits to these coves, and had been an object les-
son to more than one woman ; but to-day she had
work of her own in another direction. She
started before Reuben, to hold one of her Moth-
ers' Meetings, which had made her such a bless-
ing to the neighborhood for miles around.

She was mounted on Delight, with little Grey-
son on her lap, and a basket containing a mis-
cellaneous collection of materials for cooking, as
well as some bread of her o^vn making, was
hung from the pommel of her saddle.

She was going to a house two miles away on

90 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

the cross road to Boone, where she had arranged
to meet as many mothers as would come. The
meetings had been started four years before,
and it would have been an interesting study for
the dreaming ^philanthropist, as well as for ths
socialistic firebrands, could they have looked in
on Marthy's beautiful work at the start, and had
come again now to see the progress made, and
the practical working of a scheme, where the
teacher lived up to what she taught.

Here was a mountain woman, raised in a
log cabin and trained within ten miles of them,
living a simple industrious life; neighborly
and godly and kind, right here where they could
watch her, who could read as well as cook, and
make her own clothes ; who was like them, and
yet '^different in her ways."

^^Wat's ther reason we never had no sich
chances ? Wat's ther reason we can't be so,
too?" Such were the questions that greeted
Marthy when she first began to visit among these
people.

To the first question Marthy's quick reply
was, ^^Some of you have had the same chances,
but you didn't take them. But it isn't too lato
now. You can be and do many things that I
am and that I do. Let us ask God to help us."
And to the astonishment of the crowd of curious

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 91

women gathered for the first time, Marthy
added, ^Tet us kneel down now."

Some responded, but the majority simply sat
and gazed at her in apparent stupor.

She spoke a few words of prayer so simple
that not one there could have failed to under-
stand her if she had tried, but many did not try.
They were not used to praying, and felt that
their curiosity was being defrauded while she
prayed. She had come there, they thought, to
teach them something, and why didn't she do
it? But Marthy prayed, as she had come in
faith, and surely her faith had been rewarded,
for this afternoon, four years later, as she looked
around on the women and girls gathered to meet
her, she felt a thrill of pleasure, with which was
blended a pang at the thought of how soon she
might have to leave them.

There were probably fifteen women and girls
present. There was fire in the stove, and on
the large bare table, which was as well scrubbed
asMarthy's own, there were piled plates and
cups of various sizes and colors, and spoons and
knives and forks.

After a general handshaking there was an ex-
change of inquiries as the condition of family
health, and work, and '^crops," the garden com-
ing in for a goodly share of the interest,

92 Beuhen Delton, Preacher.

Some one displayed a fine bunch of asters,
another a splendid cluster of sweet peas ; a
young girl handed Marthy a few superb pan-
sies, with a beaming smile thro^vn in.

^^Miss Delton, I bring you the first pansies I
picked from my bushes."

After reading a few words from the Bible,
"something for us to think over and pray over
till next meeting," Marthy called on one of the
company to pray, and she told Reuben when she
went home that her heart was strengthened,
and her eyes filled with tears of joy, when she
listened to the simple words of that prayer, so
eloquent in their simplicity.

When they rose from their knees, Marthy
said, "E^ow, let's get to work. Mrs. Cauzer,
won't vou make the biscuits to-dav while we
are getting the materials ready for a new pud-
ding I want to try ?"

Mrs. Cauzer, thus addressed, blushed like a
girl with her first beau, and said, "La, Miss
Delton ! You ain't a-goin' ter make me cook for
Mothers' fleeting.' " But though she spoke
in such a modest tone she rose from her seat
away back in the room and bustled to the
front.

Marthy recalled to mind the appearance of
this woman Avhen she had first met her, and

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 93

found herself wondering over the change that
had taken place in the meanwhile.

They had stopped at the house two years be-
fore while she was out on a preaching tour with
Keub, and she could never forget the forlorn
appearance of the house, and of the family, too.

The miserable food served on dirty, broken
pieces of stoneware ; the blueish half-cooked bis-
cuHs; the bacon swimming in oily gravy; the
beans and potatoes cooked together, and look-
ing like dirty mush ; the chicken stewed in milk,
vrhich was probably the most curious dish of
which she had ever tasted; and then the coffee,
ill tasting and muddy, and sweetened with "long
sweetening," or sorghum, and served in small
bowls, of which the family only possessed two.

"I would look miserable and sour, too.
Preacher, if I had to live on such food. We
lived poorly enough at home, but things were
clean. Ma would have 'em so.

While we have digressed to glance back at
Mrs. Cauzer's home and table, she had sifted
her flour at one end of the long table and was
busy preparing her dough.

"I^ow let's have some eggs and some butter,
too. I found this recipe in a paper, and tried
it at home, and we like it because it is so
simple." She opened a bit of newspaper as she

94 Ueiihen Delton, Preacher.

spoke and spread it out on the table. There
was a good deal of talking, and Marthy looked
up for a minute, then, knocking on the table
with her fist, called out pleasantly, ^^Everybody
listen now ; I am going to read our new recipe."
In a moment there was silence, and she read dis-
tinctly, "One-half pint of milk put into a sauce-
pan ; put on the stove, and when milk is hot, add
three tablespoons of flour moistened in a little
cream. Cook till it thickens ; then add the yolks
of four eggs to the mixture. Take from the fire,
mix thoroughly, and add the well-beaten whites
of the eggs. Put into a greased pan, and bake
twenty minutes."

The recipe added, "to be eaten with sauce,"
but even if Marthy had not been a strict temper-
ance woman, she knew that the sauce required
sugar, and was therefore more of a luxury than
any of them could well afford, so that she re-
placed that sentence by one recommending that
this pudding be eaten with sorghum that had
been stewed a short while with a lump of butter
in it.

"I propose that one of the girls make the
coffee. From all that I hear, it is high times
some of them were learning, eh, Maggie ?" she
asked with a merry wink at a tall handsome
girl.

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 95

There was a burst of laughter, and many
nudges, and, with a face d}ed in rosy color,
Maggie came forward and said, pleasantly,
"All right, Miss Delton, I can try."

In a short while the meal was cooked and set
on a neatly spread table.

Marthy's beautiful pansies she placed in a
bowl in the centre, and there was more than one
admiring glance given them.

"I do say, them flowers are monstrous fine!
I 'low they look good enough ter eat/' was one
of the many comments.

Each neighbor had brought a plate or a cup,
and every one brought her spoon ; and when they
sat down around that, the simple table, surely
no afternoon tea in all the land was a more en-
joyable "function" than this one !

The biscuits were light, and of a dainty
broAvn ; the scrambled eggs were all that one
could wish ; the coffee clear and hot, and the
pudding, with its nice dressing of sorghum stew,
was, of course, the dish of the afternoon.

"Well! well! Miss Delton. I declare ef it
ain't wondeiful how you kin make a thing tas' !
This yer's jest the plumb bes' eatin' I ever done ;
en ther ain't one thing in it but w'at ev'y one o'
us has got right ter have."

"Yes," said another, sententiously ; "arter all,

9G Reuhen Delioii, Preacher.

t'ain't things so mucli that makes ther dif-
fer'nce ; it's how you handle things."

^'I'low to give my folks ther benefit of one
nex' Sunday, ef we don' git ter go ter preachin,"
was the rtmark of a good-natured woman with a
round rosy face.

''La, Miss Buns, d' you think w'en folks
has preaehin' they don't need ter have pud-
din' ?"

That question brought out a general laugh
that filled Marthy's heart with joy. She recalled
something that she had written to Miss Grey-
son just before she left school : ''I want to stay
among my own people and to try to help up-
lift them, and to help them to be happier. Do
you know that many of our people don't know
what vou mean by 'beino- hanpv' ? If vou talk
to them of happiness, they tell of the o^ood times
they had at corn-shucking, or at camp-meeting,
where they shout and sing and think they 'get
religion.' "

And the quiet happiness that shone in the
faces of these women gave her that deep satisfac-
tion that comes from the fulfilling of our noblest
plans for the uplifting of those who are our
truest neighbors.

When every thing was washed, and the plates
and cups sorted, and the ownership of each spoon

I J

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 97

settled, Marthy said, "I^ow let's look at the sew-
ing work done since we met."

A fresh ripple of excitement passed over the
room, and bundles that had been laid aside when
they first came in were searched for and brought
forward.

There was indeed a variety of garments dis-
played. Under clothing, children's dresses,
aprons, bonnets, besides some neat specimens
of patching and of darning.

What Marthy had learned at Skyland Insti-
tute had indeed proved a rich investment for
her as a pastor's wife in this mountain coiintry.
Many who had not known how to make the
simplest garments decently had learned to sew
neatly, and the latent talents of womanhood and
of motherhood were being beautifully developed.

After a kind word of su2:gestion and of en-
couragement to each one, and the singing of a
hymn, they dispersed.

Ah ! surely the angels look down on no fairer
scenes on God's earth than such as this, where a
brave young woman, with her heart set on God's
service, and her back resolutely turned on the
temptations offered her from time to time, to
go out into the world beyond — was spending
her best energies and using her best gifts for the
uplifting of her own people — people towards

OS Reuben Delton, Preacher.

whom her sympathies naturally flowed, and who
were more ready to understand and to believe
in her, because she was of their own class.

One Sunday afternoon early in September
Eeuben had come home earlier than usual from
one of his Sunday-schools up on the mountain,
and, after he had put up his horse, he called to
Marthy, who was sitting on the front door-step
watching her little boy as he played in the yard.

^Xet's go up to the spring, Marthy. It is a
wonderful afternoon. There'll be a glorious
ffunset, and, you know, we may not have many
more evenings up there !"

"Baby, go ! baby, go !" cried out the pretty
boy, clapping his hands in delight as he ran to
his father and caught at his knee to be lifted to
his shoulder.

Marthy assented by a quick nod and with a
bright smile though there was a sigh in her
heart at the thought which Reuben had sug-
gested. Getting the dipper, and locking the
doors, she took her place quickly at her hus-
band's side.

The sun was over an hour high. The moun-
tains were beginning to assume those delicious
amethystine tints that they wear in honor of the
setting sun. Flecks of cloud tinged with gold
hinted at the glory yet to be. Away do^^m in

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 99

the south the dull blue-grev of the atmosphere
blended with the paler blue of the sky, and near
at hand grim, and silent, and solemn, grand-
father overshadowed all the nearer peaks.

They sauntered through the barn-yard, petting
Delight as they passed, and then Moo-moo, the
pretty Jersey cow. The pigs at the pen came in
for a share of their notice, and the calf in the
field beyond. Then Keuben let down the rails,
and they took the spring path, which led up
through a rough piece of ground sparsely cov-
ered with kalmia and dotted with the stumps
of trees that had been felled long before.

Beyond this the path led into a thicket of
rhododendrons, in which several hundred yards
further up was the spring. When they reached
it Eeuben set his boy down from his shoulder,
and they took their seats on the rock which he
had fixed with much labor when they had
first found the spring.

From this point, through an oi^ening that he
cut out, they could get a pretty view of the
cosy manse and of the barnyard, and, beyond all,
of the valley below.

They sat silently for a few moments, both
hearts doubtless full of the same thoughts ; then
Marthy, stifling back her emotion, began to sing,
softly at first, but as she sang faith and resolute

100 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

purpose gave strength to lier rich voice, and
Reuben joined her.

" All the way my Saviour leads me,

What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt his tender mercy,

Who through life has been my guide?
Heavenly peace divinest comfort

Here by faith in him to dwell.
For I know what e'er befalls me,

Jesus doeth all things well.

" All the way my Saviour leads me,

Cheers each winding path I tread;
Gives me grace for every trial,

Feeds me with the living bread;
Though my weary steps may falter,

And my soul athirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me,

Lo, a spring of joy I see!"

The last two lines of each verse were repeated,
and they were about to begin the third when
]Marthy suddenly put her hand on Reub's and
said quietly, "Keep still, preacher, and let me
speak." Her face flushed slightly, and Reuben
smiled, not understanding what she meant. The
reason was that he was sitting with his face
turned to her, while she, looking over his shoul-
der, saw the face of Dan Ruger as he peered at
them from behind a crag not a hundred yards
awav !

The same swift telegraphic call for help in
Marthy's heart, as the one she sent up the first

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 101

night she saw that face, and then she said quite
pleasantly, '^Good evening, Mr. Rnger. Won't
you come down and sit here with us awhile ?"

It would be hard to say who was the most com-
pletely taken by surprise when Marthy spoke —
Dan Ruger or Reuben Delton.

Reub sprang instantly to his feet, his color
fading and his eye flashing, for here he was
standing with no way of defending his wife and
child, as he thought, from this desperado.

Dan Ruger, who had been hirking in the neigh-
borhood most of the day, had been attracted by
the singing, but had no thought of being seen.
His first impulse was to turn and run; the
second, which he understood better after a while,
was, ^'Stay ! Ef he fools, I kin shoot. I'll see if
ther preacher's es game es that little woman !"
Marthy's pluck was wonderful to him.

We hear much of the fascination of evil, and
of beauty, and of eloquence, but not enough of
the fascination of simple goodness, and yet who
can ever estimate here the company of those who,
like Dan Ruger, have been drawn by its power !

In less time than it had taken Reub to rise to
his feet and face Ruger he found himself mov-
ing towards him with his hand extended and a
smile on his face.

"Good evening !" he said, cordially. "Do you

102 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

like music ? Won't you come and sit down here
with us while we sing some more V^

The man's unshaven face w^as pale and hag-
gard. His dilapidated slouch hat was set hack
on his headj and his long, unkempt hair hung,
in tangles ahout his face. His shirt of coarse,
dark flannel was but the suggestion of a covering
for his bodvj and the bottom of his pants hung
in fringes about his bare ankles.

His expression was a curious blending of as-
tonishment and shame. His hand still rested on
his hip, and both Marthy and Reuben knew what
that meant, but still they stood smiling.

Little Greyson, not naturally a shy child,
seemed awed by this wild, strange figure, and
had cuddled close to his mother's side, and was
clutchino; her dress in his chubbv hand while
he gazed with wonder into Ruger's face.

"You uns 'pears ter know me," Ruger said at
last with a semblance of defiance in his voice.

"Yes," answered Marthy, quietly, "I haven't
forgotten you; and my husband knows you, be-
cause I told him about you coming to Mandy
Snoggs' and that I gave you some supper."

"You had a might}^ good chance ter stuff you
un's pockets ef you'd a jest put them houn' dogs
down ter Evergreen on me when you foun' me
prowlin' roun' ^landy Snoggs."

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 103

''Yes, but I couldn't have done that. You
never did us any harm; besides, I have been
hoping for a long time to get a chance to talk
with you, and to show you what a different life
you might lead."

Ruger was now leaning against the rock, his
hand still on his hip, and he scowled in such a
way that Marthy's heart beat with throbs.

" 'Tain't none o' you uns bizness w'at kinder
life sich as me lead.''

''Indeed it is," answered Keub, earnestly.
"That's one thing the Bible teaches us plainly.
It does matter ; and we are all boun' to help
others lead a right life. Let me read you just
a few words from the Bible," Reuben added,
quickly drawing a small Bible from his breast
pocket.

"You're tryin' ter keep me here long enough
fer some fellar ter come an' help you ketch me,"
muttered the outlaw, moving a step or two and
looking defiantly from Reuben to Marthy.

Reuben said with a smile, "Oh ! you don't
think that, Ruger. You wouldn't do a mean
thing like that, and why should I ? Listen here !"
he continued as calmly as if they were sitting
together in his room at the manse. He read
slowly and earnestly, knowing that Marthy was
praying with him that the wonderful words

104 Reuben Delton, P readier.

miglit do tlieir work on this apparently stolid
man.

"God so loved tlie world that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him
shonld not perish, bnt have everlasting life."

"He that hath the son (that is, for his Savior),
hath life ; and he that hath not the son (for his
Savior), hath not life."

Dan Rnger had seated himself sullenly on the
ground, with his back to the rock, and was look-
ing away off with an eifort not to seem inter-
ested.

Marthy watched his face anxiously while
■ Reuben continued : "If I loved a man enough to
give my little boy's life to save him, it would
have to be a mighty good man, and then I would
have to be under a mighty obligation to him ;
but God didn't wait for us to be any way de-
serving, for while we were yet sinners, Christ
died for us."

Who can doubt that something beyond human
power prompted little Greyson just at this mo-
ment to drop the dipper which he had been hold-
ing, and, slipping down from his mother's lap,
to run up to Dan Ruger, and, putting his chubby
hands one on either side of the grimy face, to
sav in his winsome tones, "Me lub oo !"

There was literally nothing to prepare the

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 105

minds of any of the spectators for this surpris-
ing scene. The child had seemed intimidated by
the appearance of the visitor at first. It could
onlv have been one of those mvsterious impulses
that make us realize everv now and then the ex-
istence of the close relation between heaven and
the heart of a child. "Their angels do always
behold the face of mv Father which is in

t/

heaven !"

In a moment Dan Ilu£:er's arms were about
the child, and with something between a sob and
a cry he bowed his head.

Both Reuben and Marthv were moved to tears
at the sight.

Greyson seemed startled at the sound of
Ruger's sobs, and, struggling free from his
arms, ran back to his mother with a little quiver
about his lips, and his face a rosy red.

Ruger raised his head after a moment or two
and looked towards them with evident emotion.
Then he said in a broken voice, "That's the fust
chile ever offered to come near me sense I been
old enough ter remember, an' the fust person
I ever heerd sav, I love vou. Wat's ther use of
you uns tryin' ter save me ? Wiy, man, I ain't
never done nothin' but sin es fur back es I kin
remember."

"That's just the kind of soul Jesus came to

(('

106 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

save. Oh ! why can't you believe it and trust
him. Only he can save you from your sins."

Reuben had spoken the last word when Dan
Ruger's keen ears detected the sound of horses'
feet down on the road. He sprang to his feet,
and Reuben rose, too, guessing at once what had
startled Ruger.

'^Can vou read ?" he asked, hastily, thrustino^
his Bible into Ruger's hand. ^Take this with
you. I wish I knew where to meet you. God
pity and save you." Dan Ruger was out of sight
before Reub had finished his sentence !

CHAPTEK VI.

A New Maw.

AS they turned their backs on the spring in
the clear gloaming, it all seemed as strange
as a dream, but they were both deeply impressed
bv the interview, and still more by the incident
in which little Grey son had been allowed to touch
the hidden spring of good which was buried in
this wayward heart.

^^I never felt so much impressed before by the
power of love, and of the nearness of heaven to a
little child's heart," wrote Marthv in her next
letter to Miss Grevson.

rj

^^Surely mother's baby was God's little messen-
ger this evening," said Marthy as she pressed
her boy to her heart and laid him in his little
bed.

They read together the parable of the prodigal
son, and both agreed that it had for them a
newer and deeper interest than ever now, and
they went to sleep feeling that God had put a
new opportunity in their way and a new respon-
sibility upon them.

^Vithin the next week they received quite a

108 Reuhen Delton, Preacher.

budget of letters relating to the call across the
mountains.

Miss Greyson, among others, wrote that she
was deeply concerned. She could not see that
it was their duty to go, because she could
not see that their work in Wautauga was fin-
ished. But she was afraid she was blinded by
her own interests. She could not advise; she
could only feel.

Dr. Doliver wrote Reuben that he could not
press him further in the matter, but could only
hope that his Presbytery would see the way
clear to dismiss him, at least for a vear or two.

With a courage born of strong faith Reuben
and Marthv determined not to discuss the mat-
ter any more just now, but to turn all their
thoughts and energies to their present work.

''One thing I do believe, Marthy, and that is
what you said about Dan Ruger, that God has a
work for us to do for that poor fellow."

''But how can we get at him ? You don't
know where to find him, do you V^ asked Marthy.

"]^o. I don't know^ that I ought to go up into
the cave where I've always heard that he makes
his headquarters. There's a desperate gang of
'em up there."

"]^o, indeed !" Marthy exclaimed with a shud-
der, but she added, quickly, "O Reub ! we both

r

Reuhen Delton, Preacher. 109

believe in prayer. Let us ask God to give us the
opportunity.'^

The beautiful September days were in all
their glory now. The air had never seemed
more crystal in its clearness, the distant moun-
tains had never seemed bluer, nor had old Grand-
father ever appeared more regal in the glory of
his sunset surroundings. Thousands of ^Tare-
wells to summer" greeted the eye on every side,
purple and yellow and white.

The glossy galax leaves through all the varying
shades from green to crimson and brown car-
]Deted the banks of the turnpike for miles. The
shining leaves of the Avinter-green and its bright
scarlet berries starred the hillsides. And here
and there the dark blue bud of the gentian
gleamed. Everywhere the landscape was be-
ginning to glow with the wondrous color that
marks the year's decline.

There was sunlight and splendor everywhere,
and Marthy's beauty-loving soul rejoiced in it
all, and she comforted herself by remembering
that she would find God's beauty even when she
turned her back on dear old Wautauga.

She had called a meeting of the Loving
Thought Circle, a band of King's Daughters
which she had formed shortlv after her mar-
riage, and her object had been to train the

110 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

Yoimg to think kind thoiiglits that would blos-
som into loving deeds.

There are so many — ah ! Marthy, little knew
how widely they are scattered over the world —
who simply never think of little kindnesses that
would gladden the hearts abont them. Of course,
then they cannot do them. Some are too busy,
they think, some are too poor, but many more
are simply too indifferent to the pleasure and
comfort of others. And Marthy, who had seen
what Miss Grevson had done to make other lives
beautiful, and to beautify her own life by lov-
ing thoughts and kindly deeds, had resolved to
begin her life as a mountain pastor's wife by
training all the children she could reach in this
way.

One of the chief employments of the circle,
and surely their chief pleasure was the prepara-
tion of Christmas presents.

Miss Grevson and other friends had been in
the habit for several years past of sending
Marthy remnants and scraps of bright colored
wool and silk and ribbon, sometimes adding pat-
terns of little things to be made from such ma-
terials. Then Marthy would gather the young-
girls and such of the children as were old enough
to learn, and, dividing the materials and plan-
ning and cutting for them, would try to arrange

Reuben Delton, Preacher. Ill

that everv member of the circle should make a
present for some one. *

It was delightful to see the zest with which
they entered on this work, and what a new light
of happiness shone in the faces of those, many
of whom were tasting for the first time the sweet-
ness of giving.

There were some among them who had grown
to womanhood, yet had never before thought of
giving anything to anybody unless it was, per-
haps, fruit or food. Generous by nature, this
thought of making something just to be pretty
and to please for someone else was a novel source
of pleasure !

"La, Miss Delton," said one young girl, ^'now
who'd a thought I could ha' made a purty thing-
like that ? It's plumb grand !" And she held
up a gay pincushion stuck with pins that she
had made for her mother.

This September afternoon that Marthy had
called the circle together she had nuts and apples
and some small tea cakes ready. She resolved to
give them an especially happy afternoon. She
dared not hint it, but she feared that she might
not meet with them again, and she wanted this
to be such a meeting as they would all like to
remember as the last one. She fought bravely to
hide any shadow of her sadness from her face,

112 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

but one bright-faced girl, who was particularly
devoted to her, crept to her side while she was
basting a piece of work and said, ^^Miss Delton,
your face don't look right happy, w'at's the mat-
ter r

Marthy's eyes filled quickly, the child, with
the intuition of love, had peered behind the mask
of sixdles and had seen the sadness lurking
there.

^^O Mary !" Marthy answered, ^^you are a little
witch ! You mustn't put on your spectacles
when you look at my face. You'll see a lot o'
things that spoil my beauty if you do," and she
moved away quickly to escape any further ques-
tioning.

That circle of girls had made over fifty gifts
for the last Christmas. Trifles, all of them
were, but they were the expression of love and
interest.

There were button bags, pincushions, gloves,
aprons, bonnets, iron-holders, table covers, mats,
scarfs, mufflers, baby shoes ; and along with the
heart training in the divine art of giving their
eyes were being trained for color seeing and
their hands for service.

The Boys' Band — for Marthy recognized the
supreme importance of training boys as well as
girls in this sweet work of giving — the boys

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 113

made various articles of rhododendron roots,
from cliairs and picture frames to ink stands
and sleeve buttons. And some of their work was
so clever as to bring the young workmen quit« a
nice revenue from tlie summer tourists, and tliis
revenue they had been investing in books for a
circulating library, which was one of Reuben's
ambitions for his people.

The last week before the meeting of Presby-
tery had come jMarthy had written to her
mother that she and Greyson would stay with
her while Reuben was aw^ay, and she was busy
now making a few necessary preparations for
that visit.

Early in the week Reuben went away up on
the mountain to see a family that was very poor
and that he wanted to get moved down nearer
to Evergreen before he left for Presbytery.

The road scarcely deserved the name. It was
cut out roughly through a laurel thicket, and on
the return he dismounted, out of compassion to
Delight, and w^as leading him by the bridle
when he came to a place where the path divided.
He was not familiar w^ith the way, and had no
idea which was his road. After a moment's hesi-
tation, and, we must believe, "led by the Spirit,"
he plunged down towards the right, saying to

114 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

himself, Oh ! well, it's bound to lead somewhere,
and I can find ont Svhere I am at' there."

Reuben Delton was not a reckless man. He
knew that this country was wild, and that there
were lawless characters about, but he believed he
was about his Father's business, and when urged
to carry a ]3istol had always said, "What use has
a Christian for a pistol ? When he enlists in the
service of his Master it is for peace, and not for
w^ar, and he expects to be taken care of."

And it certainly had seemed that there was an
unseen guard about Reub and Marthy during
the four years in which they had lived and
worked in this field.

Many adventures and remarkable escapes had
served to confirm their faith.

More than once this afternoon Reub had
thought he had heard steps or the crack of a dis-
tant gun, but he was busy thinking, and in the
path of duty, and had no fear.

A sharp turn in the slippery wild pathway
brought him suddenly face to face with Dan
Ruger !

The man had his pistol cocked and an ugly
scowd on his face, which, however, gave place to
an awkward smile, and he dropped his gun as
surprised as Reuben was.

"Why, Ruger, I wasn't looking for you," he

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 115

exclaimed, offering his hand as cordially as he
would have done to any friend.

Enger put his hand out awkwardly and said,
"Howdye.'' Poor fellow ! It had been many a
long day since any one had offered him such a
proof of friendliness. He seemed to recover
from his surprise at seeing Delton as soon as he
spoke, for in a moment, he asked, ^'Whar you be
goin' ?"

"Why," said Reuben, laughing; "I thought I
was going home. I've been up to the Early's
upon Big Ivy, and I thought I was going back
the same way I came ; am I in the wrong path ?"

"Well, you is ; an' you hadn't orter go down
that a way, preacher. I'll put you back in the
road," replied Kuger, looking uneasily over his
shoulder.

"That's very kind of you, I'm sure, and then
I'll have a chance for a little talk with you. I
was mighty sorry you had to go Sunday even-

in'."

Instead of replying Ruger put up his hand
with a motion to indicate silence, and Reuben
silently turned about and moved back up the
way he had come, satisfied that the man con-
sidered him in danger and was anxious to pro-
tect him, for he kept in the rear behind Reuben
and his horse.

IIG Eeuhen Delton, Preacher.

When they had scrambled back to where the
roads diverged, Reuben proposed to rest awhile^
but Ruger said, quickly, in a low tone, ^^ISTot
yit; when we git do^^Ti yander in the next big
laurel thicket," and saying that, he took the
lead.

They had been walking silently some minutes,
when Ruger halted, stooped down, and, bending
his head near the groiind, listened intently for
a moment, then, rising, he looked overhead to
see how high the sun was. Reuben drew out
his watch and said, ^^My watch says ten minuter
of five.''

^^Thar's a spring, ef you remember, 'bout a hun
dred yards further. I 'low yer beast '11 take a
drink, and you ken rest a bit, too."
• Reuben threw the reins over his horse's neck
and let him drink at the pretty little pool hy
the spring, and then sat down with Ruger b;^
the roadside. The man looked confused and
frightened, but Reub took no notice of it, and,
taking oif liis hat, he wiped his brow quietly and
waited for him to speak.

"You uns," Ruger said, slowly, "is got a lot
more brav'ry than we uns. I wus afeerd ul
you t'other evenin', but you don' seem ter'spicion
me."

"Oh ! well, man," Reuben replied with a smile,

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 117

^'wlien yon trust in God always for yonr help,
and when you know, by w^hat lie has done al-
ready, what he will do for you, you are just
bound to go ahead — if you are trying to do his
work and trust him to guard you. That's why I
am not afraid. '^

Ruger looked at him steadily for a moment,
then, drawing from his pocket the Bible that
Reub had handed to him on Sunday, he said,
^'Preacher, I've tried to read this yere book. I
foun' ther words you said, for you had black
marks 'round 'em, but ef this yer's God's book,
'pears like I hain't got ther right so much es ter
tech it with my hand." He held it out as he
spoke with emotion in his face that surprised
Eeuben.

^^Why, Euger, if God loved sinners enough to
send his only Son to die for them, why
shouldn't they read in his book all about it, and
how to escape from the power of the devil?
Why, it's the man that's lost that needs the
guide-book and the guide-post, don't you
see ?"

^'My God! man, ther's blood on this hand,
an' ther's been nothin' but hell in my heart for
ten years," exclaimed Euger, holding out his
hand and trembling as he spoke.

Then there's all the more need for you to

(it

118 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

come to Jesns and liave it cleansed in liis blood.
Only ask liim, only believe liini !"

Rnger's head was bowed on his hands now as
he sat with his knees drawn np and his elbows
on his knees. His half-clad body seemed con-
vnlsed with emotion^ which he conld scarcely
control.

Reuben put his hand out tenderly on the
man's arm and said, "Kneel with me now, and
let us ask God to show you how to believe he
even does that for sinners."

It was a strange scene that the afternoon sun-
light, flickerins: throuoh loftv hemlocks and
rhododendron boughs, fell upon. These two
men, types of the saved and the sinner the world
over. The one, with his clear, open brow, and
fine grey eyes, where spiritual and intellectual
light shone, and the other, whose brow was
marked by those hard, strong lines wherein the
devil had written his ownership; the eyes
bleared with long years of dissolute living, and
yet it was for this man Reub Delton was plead-
ing so earnestly, yea, and for such as this man
Jesus died !

Ruger knelt as obediently as a child would
have done, and as they rose to kneel Reuben
said gently, "Let us take off our hats.''
Only a few strono- words of confession, only a

Beuhen Delton, Preacher. 119

swift cry for mercy, only a pleading for the
strength and the pardon promised to every re-
pentant sinner, and at last, amid sobs, Dan
Knger's own cry, ^Tord, have mercy on me.
I'm a lost sinner ef you don't." Then they rose,
and Reuben said, "^ow, Rnger, you know that
repentance means more than just being sorry
for tlio sins we have committed; it is quitting
those things you are sorry for. This is not
easy if a man tries to do it by himself, nor if he
stays right where he will be tempted again.
What are you going to do now^?"

^'My God ! preacher, that is what I want you
to tell me. Do vou know ther law's arter me :
fust, fur shootin' with intent ter kill ; secon', fur
horse stealin', and agin fur illicit distillin'.
I^ow, whar's my chance fur livin' like a Chris-
tian man ? How kin I begin ter do right ?"

^^There's just one way for you to show that
you do truly repent, and that you love the Lord
Avho died for 3'ou, and want to live the rest of
your life for him."

Reuben looked the poor returning prodigal
steadily in the face and said firmly but gently,
^^You must deliver yourself up to meet the full
penalty of the law. God will surely be with
you and strengthen you for it."

May God have mercy on me !" groaned the

('!<

120 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

man. "What do that mean fur me ?" "It means
certainly to go to jail at first. Did you say you
shot a man V

"Yes ; we wus in a fuss, an' he got ther better
of me, an' I swore ter kill him. I shot him in
ther back, an' then I run an' hid out that night
an' stole a horse an' come over ther mounting,
an' I've been a helpin' ter run two stills up here
on ther mounting. I have fit an' stole an' done
everything else that's mean till ther night your
wife said the fust kin' words I've heerd in years.
Wen I carried them birds doA\Ti ter your house
I felt like I'd rather die then go back an' live
like a beast, an' I did cock ther pistol onct ter
take my life, but ther Lord must ha' held me
back. Then come las' Sunday. I'd been a
skulkin' roun' your farm fur two days a-tryin'
ter come near somethin' good an' respectable.
You know how your little one come ter me.
Preacher," his voice quavered. "Don't you
b'lieve ther Lord sent that baby ter me ?"
"I certainly do, and so does his mother."
"Well, w'en I felt them pure baby arms 'roun'
my neck an' heerd that baby sayin' he loved me
— me, as ain't never heerd no sich words sence
I wus big enough ter ricollect — ther's no tellin'
w'at I'd ha' done then ef them soun's down in
ther road hadn't ha' startled me." He stopped

Reuhen Delton, Preacher, 121

a moment and covered his face with his hands,
then suddenly looking np with a terrified ex-
pression, he said, ^^O God ! ain't ther no right
way for me but ter go ter jail? Ain't I never
ter git no chance ter. live like Christian folks

do r

^^The first thing for a Christian to do is to be
right with God, and the next is to be right with
his fellow-men."

Rnger sat silently for a moment or two.

The sweet sunshine mellowed the cool air ;
the ferns around the spring nodded their gentle
obedience to nature's laws ; the water rippled
onward to the river, and the river to the sea.
There was no human eye save that of Reub Del-
ton to mark the outward sign of that mighty
conflict between the devil" and the Lord's forces
for the city of Mansoul, but surely the eye of
him who hath been touched with a feeling of
our infirmities saw and pitied and strengthened !

"Preacher, would you be willin' ter take me
over ter Boone an' deliver me up ter ther
sheriff ? I could go with you, an' I could stan'
ther thought of your gittin' ther price, but them
Evergreen men shan't never take me alive,"

Reuben's heart throbbed with pity and with
admiration for the poor fellow.

"Yes, Ruger, I will go with you as your

122 Reuben Delton, Preaclier.

friend, but when ? It is growing late ; I must be
getting on home."

"Where do yon live ?"

"E'owhar an' ev'rj'whar/' replied Euger with
an expression of ntter dejection in his face;
"hnnted like a wild beast fnr two years, sleepin'
sometimes on the ground, sometimes in a cave,
sometimes at Mandy Snoggs', but always an'
ev'rywhar lookin' fur ter be killed by niornin',
er taken ter jail."

"Poor fellow ! don't you see that the Avages of
sin are poor pay ? Why, a life in jail, or at the
penitentiary, would be better than the life you
have been leading !"

"E^o, sir ! no ! This yer life's a free life. I
wus my own marster."

"Your own master ! Why, don't you see that
the devil has been your master, and all the time
dragging you down to destruction ?"

Ruger groaned and covered his face with his
hands for a moment, then he looked earnestly
into E/euben's face and said, "You're right.
Preacher, but ef Jesus Christ died fur sich as
me, an' he'll arive me a trial now, an' you'll len'
me a helj)in' han' to keep me straight, I'll bust
away from all the Avickedness I've been at, so
help me God !"

The tears rushed to Reuben's eyes. The pale,

Beuben Delton, Preacher. 123

iTiisliaven face of the desperado wore an expres-
sion that had never been seen there before, and
there was a lio;ht in his eve that had been lit
there by a divine power.

Eeuben took his hand and said, ^^Come to my
house to-morrow night or the next, whichever
suits you, and come to the side gate and whistle.
I'll have supper and a bed for you, and the next
morning I will drive you over to Boone, and
we will show that you are a changed man by the
love and si'ace of God. Will vou come ?"

The man stood speechless for a moment, then,
putting his hand out, he grasped Reuben's, and
with something like a sob he said. ^^Preacher,
you 'uns may look fur me," and he turned away.

Reuben's heart was full as he rode do^^^l the
mountain. It was after six o'clock when he
reached home, and Marthy had begun to wonder
Avhat was keeping him, when he rode up to the
barn-yard gate.

As soon as Marthv saw him she exclaimed,
^^O preacher ! what is it ? Something has hap-
pened ! What is it ? You have good news, I'm
sure. T\lio about?"

It was the ^interrogation point" that was so
eagerly looking up into his face, and Reuben
smiled as he said to her, ^^Wonderful news in-
deed. I have been with Dan Ruger for an hour,

124 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

and I believe he is a saved man by the grace of
God !''

"I can't tell yon all now," he added, taking
the saddle off and tnrning Delight loose in the
lot. '^Go on to the honse and hnrry np snpper,
little woman, and then I'll tell yon the whole
story."

Marthy clasped her hands together and nt-
tered an exclamation of joy and of surprise.

"I wonder why I am surprised," she mur-
mured as she crossed the road. ^^It seems like
I am never going to learn to take the Lord at his
word ! We've been prayin' for this poor fellow,
and yet I Avasn't looking for the answer, least-
ways, so soon. O God ! forgive me for my want
of faith," she added, with uplifted eyes.

It wa*s a happy evening for these faithful
young servants of the Lord when Reuben told
the whole story of the apparently accidental
meeting, of Huger's change, and of his request
that Reuben would take him to Boone.

As the next day wore on Reuben began to be
very anxious.

^'What if his courage gives out ! What if
he doesn't come ! I feel that this is the crisis
of the fellow's life." And many prayers rose
from both of their hearts for grace to be given
Ruger for this step.

Eeuhen DeltoUj Preacher, 125

^^Yoii know, he must be tried for man-
slaug'hter, if not for murder, and for horse steal-
ing and illicit distilling. A man must be firm
and brave to keep his word when it takes to
prison, and, maybe, to death.''

^'We must just keep on praying and trusting
in God's power, preacher. Oh ! couldn't you
take some of that monev that Mrs. Boutelle left
with us to get him decent clothes and shoes ?
Can't we give the j)Oor outcast one happy night
to remember, eh, preacher ?"

This was said shortly after dinner, and
Reuben, after a moment's pause, said, ^'Yes,
Marthy, I think it would be right. The poor
fellow vrill respect himself more if he looks more
respectable. I will saddle Delight right away
and look at some suits that Mooney has. I was
going up for the mail, anyhow."

]\Ir. Mooney asked no questions of Preacher
Delton, strange to say, when he wished to look
at clothing. He was used to Keuben's buying
clothes for other peoj)le, and knew that he had
been to see the Barlys the day before. Besides,
he had had his curiosity quietly but firmly
checked more than once before.

This served Beuben's purpose well. He was
not at all sure how the men of the neighborhood

126 Reiiben Delton, Preacher.

would take tlie news of the interview with
Rnger and its results.

He took the suit, as well as a hat and a pair
of shoes, with him, and awaited nightfall with
no little anxiety.

In the meanwhile, filled with a new purpose
that never wavered, Ruger had gone to a small
distillery, which he had assisted in running for
over two years in one of the remotest and wild-
est coves of that region. Here he found Job
Kane, one of his partners.

^^Job,'^ he said with a steady voice, "I'm
about to quit this part of ther country, an' this
business, too. I 'low it would be a good thing ef
you 'uns wus ter do ther same, but, howsoever
that be, I'm done, an' I've got this ter say, ef I
had ha' seen things like I do now, I'd ha' never
done no sich work from ther fust."

Job Kane's face was ashy pale, and he drew
his pistol from his belt. Involuntarily Kuger's
hand sought his pistol, and then, though he
knew that death was staring him in the face, he
said, "You think I'm a-goin' ter peach on you
'uns, an' you aim ter git me out of ther way, but
you're wrong thar. You kin shoot me, but, so
help me God, I'm a-goin' ter give you 'uns a
chance ter see things es I do. I don't never ex-
pect ter to give in none of you boy's names."

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 127

What was it that made Job Kane's hand drop
powerless ? We may speculate, and even doubt
that there was anything in Knger's speech that
could have this effect; all the same God knows
such things have happened, and Avill continue
to happen to the end of time. God is as true to
his covenant with those who have but recently
sworn allegiance as to those who have never
known any other master.

Job looked sullenly at his former accomplice
and said, ^'Well, you git outer these parts in a
hurry. You must ha' been ter camp meetin' an'
got religion," and he broke into a scornful laugh.

Time was when Euger would have been roused
by this ridicule to shooting.

^^Maybe I have" was all he said as he turned
away forever from Job Kane and the Big Rock
distillery.

About eight o'clock Reuben heard the whistle
at the fence, and fairlv bounded to his feet in
his relief and eagerness to find that Dan Ruger
had really come.

"Welcome, and God bless you," said Reuben,
cordially, as he grasped the hand of his visitor.

The flood of cheerful light that streamed out
from the kitchen door seemed to blind Ruger
for a moment, and he stopped — he who had had
no faith in God or man before seemed to realize

128 Reuben Delton, Preacher,

that he was placing his life in the hands of
Renben and Marthy, and that there was no go-
ing back now.

"I ain't fitten tor come in vonr house, nor
wliar women folks is/' said Rnger, conscious of
his miserable appearance, and shrinking back
out of the light.

But Reuben, putting his hand on the man's
shoulder, said with a laugh, "Oh ! we are used
to seeing all kinds of people, and, besides, I'm
ffoinfi^ to take you to a room where you can o-et
a chance to wash and change your clothes, then
you'll feel more like eating supper, I reckon."

Dan Euger stared blankly at him, simply
OYcrwhelmed by all this kindness. Lons; after-
wards, when he had learned to loye the parable
of the Prodigal Son more than all others, he
said to Reuben, "Surely, you took in the prodi-
gal son and clothed him and fed him that
night !"

He followed Reuben without another word
into the kitchen, almost blinded by the bright
lamplight, to which his eyes were so unused.

Marthy greeted him just as she would haye
greeted any guest who had come to pass a night
with them, and then Ruger, turning to Reuben,
said, "Yere preacher, I surrender ter you 'uns ;
your weepons is more powerful then mine,"

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 129

and he handed Keiiben the pistol that had
wrought so much eviL

"I set my gun out agin ther fence. I 'lowed
as how you 'uns had a right ter mistrust me,
an' I thought you mightn't know es how it
wasn't loaded. I'll git you ter keep that too.
It's a mighty good gun fur varmints."

Then he took from his hip pocket a formidable
jack-knife, and, handing it to Marthy, said,
said, ^^Miss Delton, I'll give you this ter keep.
Your words up ter Mandy's that night cut me
wus than any knife — but they done me good."

Marthy and Reub were quite overcome by
the man's unconscious eloquence^ — the eloquence
of his manner rather than of his words.

Reuben took him into the shed room, and
there, laid out on the bed, by Marthy's kind
hands, were clean, new clothes and a hat and
pair of shoes, while a tub of water and towels
suggested to him that in this household ^'the
gospel of cleanliness" was believed in.

He came out sometime later a very changed
person in his appearance but for his unshaven
face and shaggy hair.

Marthy, with that tact which comes rather
from true kindliness than from Avhat is known
as ^^good breeding,'^ made no comment on the
change, but set before Ruger the supper she

130 Beuben Deltoii, Preacher.

had prepared for him. However, the poor fel-
low, dazed by all the kindness, and by the sud-
den accession of comfort, did but little justice
to the meal.

"AVe always have what we call family prayers,
Ruger," said Reuben, w^hen he found that his
guest could not eat. "I will read a few verses
from the Bible, and then we will kneel and ask
God to take care of us through the night."

Reuben read the thirty-second psalm, ex-
plaining and bringing out the meaning of those
wonderful words which have been the comfort
of so many forgiven souls through the ages since
they were written. Then they knelt in prayer,
and the preacher's heart was poured out in sup-
plication for Dan Ruger. Surely it was a sight
for angels to rejoice over — the sight of this re-
pentant sinner as he rose from his knees with
tears in his eyes.

There had never been such an excitement in
all Wautauga county as there was when it be-
came known that Dan Ruger had given himself
up to Preacher Delton, and that he had gone to
Boone.

When Reuben passed the store at Evergreen
there were two or three men sitting around as
usual, and they noticed that he had a stranger
with him. Reuben hoped to drive quietly past,

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 131

but Mooney decided that he had a right to
know where his preacher was going, even if he
could not find out who his companion was.

^^Good morning/' said Eeub, quietly, but
without slacking his speed.

"Good mornin'. Why, whar you be goin' so
early, preacher ?'' asked Jim Mooney, staring
earnestly at Ruger while he spoke. Every man
of the little group was keeping him company,
too, for it was an important matter to have peo-
ple passing so soon in the day.

"I'm going over to Boone on a little business,
and will be back by evening, and will call for
my mail then.''

"Won't you 'uns light awhile ?" Mr. Mooney
called in a tone in which there was more irrita-
tion than cordiality.

"1^0, thank you !" called back Reuben, touch-
ing Delight with his whip as he spoke, and in a
moment more a curve in the road took them out
of sight.

"Preacher Delton's awful close-mouthed, any-
how. I caint see w'at harm 'twould ha' done
fur we 'uns ter know'd whar he was goin' an'
w'at that feller's name wus," said Mooney in a
discontented tone.

"Preacher's plumb aggravatin', I say," was
the response from a sympathizing loafer.

132 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

^^The preacher bought them close yisterday,
an' paid spot cash fur 'em, too, he did." Mooney
threw this crust to the hungry crowd of gossips
with a complacent twinkle in his eye. If he
didn't know Avho the stranger was, and Avhere he
came from, or why they were going to Boone,
he knew something more than the others !

"Do say ! Well, it monght be a feller that
was a-goin' ter be marr'ed," suggested a young
fellow whose thoughts lightly turned to love.

"That fellar ain't foolin' with marryin' now,
you bet !" said Mooney, who prided himself on
his shrewdness.

And so for the next hour, until a party of
tourists diverted their thoughts, the group of
men speculated on the subject of Reub Delton's
companion.

CHAPTEE VII.

Sustainijstg Gkace.

As tliey drove slowly along, Riiger was tell-
ing Reuben the story of his life of sin
and crime. Making confession of sins that he
seemed truly to repent of and asking many ques-
tions— questions that had reference to the new
life the poor fellow w^as entering on.

It w^as about noon when they turned into the
lovely v\dnding valley road that leads into this
quaint little town, and Delton drove up to the
sheriff's office without attracting attention.

"Sheriff !" he called out.

A small girl ran out from a gate beside the
office and called in a very loud voice, "O par !
par ! Yere's a man wants ter see you, an' he
looks like Preacher Delton, he does."

When the sheriff appeared, his face w^as a
study. It was one of those faces that seemed
marked all over with interrogation points. How
much his life as a sheriff had to do with the
singular expression, w^e cannot say.

"^^Good evenin', preacher. Why, won't you

134 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

'luis light ?" He glanced at Ruger from under
a ^aiv of shaggy grey eyebrows with a keen pro-
fessional stare. Dan Ruger declared afterwards
that it gave him shivers.

^'Sheriff, we want to see yon privately in your
office as soon as I hitch my horse.''

"Suttenly ! suttenly !" was the quick reply.

Reuben hitched Delight, while Dan Ruger
stood by quietly, astonished, as he afterwards
declared, at himself.

Then they went into the bare, dirty room
dignified by the title of ^'^office."

^^Sheriff,'' said Reuben after the door was
closed, and laying his hand gently on the arm of
Ruger, ^^this man is Dan Ruger, and he has
voluntarily surrendered to me. He comes here
to answer for the violation of the law because
he feels that it is the right thing for a Christian
man to do. He is my friend, and I ask you to
be as merciful to him as you would be to me."

To say that Sheriff Clapp was astonished is
putting it mildly.

His small black eyes snapped violently, his
round, red face grew redder; he stood, first on
one foot and then on the other, staring all the
while at Ruger. He would start suddenly to-
wards the man then, just as suddenly, start
back.

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 135

^'Dan Ruger! Dan Riiger! give himself up
voluntary! Your friend? Like a Christian
man should. Grandfather Mountain! Man,
what d' ye mean ?"

He looked at Eeuben now, and the question
was evidently for him.

"I mean simply/' said Reuben in a quiet,
firm tone, ''that by the grace of God Dan Ruger
is a changed man. He wants to do right now.
He is my friend, and I ask you to be as kind to
him as the law will allow."

"Well! well! I say, whar d'ye ketch him,
preacher?" exclaimed Clapp, eyeing his gun
that hung on the wall.

Dan Ruger in the meanwhile stood with his
head down, motionless but for the nervous
clutching of his clasped hands.

''I didn't catch him. I told you he gave him-
self up to me, and asked me to bring him to
Boone."

"Well ! well !" muttered the sheriff, nodding
his head slowly in a very reflective manner, and
interspersing these nods with shrewd searching
glances at the prisoner.

Reuben resolved not to tell anything more
about his intercourse with Ruger than he could
possibly avoid. It might have savored of self-
praise — the story of Ruger's conversion — to

136 Reuhen Delton, Preacher.

those who are always so quick to turn the small
weapon of ridicule on everything pertaining to
religion.

^^Well ! well V uttered Sheriff Clapp for the
third time. ^'This do beat ther nation. Well,
I hain't never heerd nothin' like this sence I
was a boy. Come 'long then, prisoner. Ther
law's after you on three counts, and the sooner
you're behin' the bars, ther better fur the
county, an' fur ther preacher, too, for he's
a-ffoin' ter ait the fiftv dollars reeward."

For the first time Ruger's lips quivered, and
he gave sign of hearing what was said. Before
that he seemed to Reuben to have withdrawn
his attention to that inner battle-ground where
a man's bitterest conflicts are often waged.

The sheriff took down his gun, and, turning
to Reuben, said, ^^Preacher, you'll go over with
me." He evidently expected the prisoner to
make some resistance. Reuben placed himself
quietly by Ruger without a reply, and they went
out and crossed the street to the jail.

The jailor seemed as surprised as the sheriff,
though, being a man of fewer words, he vented
his feelings by stares and an occasional whistle.
He was inclined to be rough when he put on the
handcuffs.

Ruger's face turned ashy pale when they were

Reuben Delton, Preaclier, 137

put on, and if anything had been needed to
prove that he was a changed man, it was his sub-
mission without a sign of resistance to what
would have probably cost a death-struggle a
month before !

He had already unconsciously become an ob-
ject lesson in proof of the power of religion to
recast the soul of man.

When they reached the door of the cell, Ruger
turned and said in a low tone, ^^Prcacher, would
you min' comin' in an' prayin' with me before
you go?''

^^Do you think I could go home without a
prayer Avith you ?" Then he turned and asked
to be locked in the cell with the prisoner for a
little while.

The men were too amazed to deny anything
to the man who had captured the notorious out-
law, and they knew Reub Delton's life too well
to fear any collusion with their prisoner. They
locked the two men in, but lingered outside,
hoping to overhear some confession from the
prisoner. But, as we know, Euger had made
all his confessions on the road.

Reuben sat down beside him on the cot Avhich
furnished the only se^t in the cell, and, taking
out a Bible, he read several passages, the par-
able of the Prodigal Son among others.

138

Reuben Delton, Preacher.

^^Let ITS pray now, Dan/' and together they
knelt, while he poured out what to the ears out-
side must have seemed a strange torrent of
thanksgiving !

But was it not true that Dan Ruger, hand-
cuffed and locked in jail, was yet freer than he
had ever heen ?

It was for his escape from the bondage and
power of a sinful life that Reuben Delton gave
thanks, and commending him to the care of the
God who he was now resolved to serve, and pray-
ing that if it was God's will, he might yet live
to tell many others the story of the cross, the
young preacher rose from his knees, and, hand-
ing Ruger the Bible, he said, ^^Dan, I have writ-
ten vour name and mine here, and I have
marked some passages that I wanted you to read
right away. But, my friend, this book is a
mine — an inexhaustible mine — and the treas-
ures that are there must be dug for and laid up
in your heart. Maybe God has shut you in here
to give you time for this very study that you
need. Keep a brave heart. I mean to do all I
can to save your life. In the meanwhile pray
hard, and keep your temper when people ply
you with questions. God bless you, God bless

you

v>

Reuhe7i Delton, Preacher. 139

Eeiib grasped the hand of Euger, who brushed
the tears from his eyes as he gave his hand.

"Preacher, you're goin' ter come agin ?"

"Certainly/' replied Reuben as he went to
the door and called for the jailor.

The sheriff, who had lingered in the hall with
the jailor in the hope of gaining some further
information, joined him and eagerly demanded
to know "all about the capture," as he persisted
in calling it.

It had become generally known by this time
that the notorious outlaw was in the jail, and
when Reuben went out to his buggy he found
quite a crowd gathered in the street, and all
clamorous for the story. His indignation was
strong when he saw men and women so eager for
details of the affair, and his eyes flashed, and his
color deepened, as he stood on the steps and
said, "My friends, you all know that Dan Ruger
has been a desperate outlaw. He says so him-
self, but by the grace of God he is a saved man,
and a changed man. That is what God's grace
can and does do. I have not time to tell you the
story of his conversion, but I want you to know
that I did not capture him ; he gave himself up
to me willingly, and wants to abide by the law.
Let us try to think how we would feel in his
place. We surely would not want to be stared

140 Reuben Delion, Preacher.

at like caged animals. E"eitlieT does lie. Fol-
low tlie golden rule, friends. I consider Dan
Ruger a friend of mine, therefore treat liim
kindly for my sake. But he is more, he is a
sinner saved by Jesns Christ, jnst as I hope yon
are. Treat him as our Master would have you
treat him. I expect to come back to see him,
and then I will tell you about his conversion.
You especially, Mr. Simpson,'' he said, turning
to the jailor. ^^I beg you to be kind. I do not
believe your prisoner will give you any trouble.
Good-bye to you all."

Eeuben Delton bowed, and, getting into his
buggy, drove off, and the crowd quietly dis-
persed, but as Reub drove away one man's en-
thusiasm got the better of him, and he called out,
^'Bullv fur Preacher Delton ! Come back an'
tell us w'at kinder spell you used to git a hold
on that feller."

Reuben's ride home gave him opportunity for
reflection, and for once the sylvan beauty of the
famous Boone Turnpike was lost on him.

Back to the prisoner his thoughts would turn,
not once, but many times. Then they flashed
across the far Blue Eidge Mountains shut out
from view now to the field to which he had been
called.

"^^How can I leave that poor fellow now?

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 141

God surely has given him to me as a charge.
I must begin right aAvay to interest people in
him. I shall write to the governor myself. The
story of Dan Kuger will touch any Christian
heart.''

He only stopped a few moments at Ever-
green. He knew hoAV anxiously Marthy would
await his return.

When Mooney handed him his mail there was
quite a group of loafers around the door.

"Well, friends/' said Reuben, "I have some
wonderful news for you. The man that I drove
over to Boone this morning was Dan Ruger,
whose name we've all known for years as that
of an outlaw, a horse stealer, perhaps a mur-
derer, an illicit distiller, but by the grace of
God now a changed man, a saved sinner ! He
gave himself up to me, and left both his gun and
his pistol at my house last night."

The effect was electrical. The men sprang to
their feet, excepting one man, who seemed too
surprised to move.

^Dan Ruger ! I do say !"

Well, well, that's plumb pas' believin' !"

"Well ! did you ever ?"

Such were some of the exclamations that
greeted Reub's ears.

"Well, preacher," said Mooney, admiration

"]

CO

142 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

and disgust blended curiously in his tones, "you
do beat all fur bein' tlie sliuttest-mouthed man,
an' Tm boun' ter say, fur brav'ry, too."

"Why, man alive ! he druv all ther way from
his house clean ter Boone a sittin' by that feller
an'not so much as a string aroun' his wrists, an'
I'll bet nary a gun nur pistil along! Well,
well !"

Keuben laughed heartily at the man's way of
expressing his praise. It had never once oc-
curred to him that he was doing a brave thing.
Then looking gravely around on them all, he
said, "Mooney, I would trust that man any-
where now. If vou could have seen him, and
heard his humble confession to me of his past
sins, and then have seen him kneel down with
me to ask God's forgiveness, you would be
obliged to believ^ in him now. He is a saved
man, and I will never doubt the power of God
again, so help me God!" He ended solemnly,
and a hush fell on the crowd.

"I will tell his story next Sunday, and shall
look for all of you to be at church." Keuben
touched Delight gently with his whip and drove
off.

When the story of Dan Huger's conversion
was known, it endeared the Deltons more
strongly than ever to the people among whom

Beuhen Belton, Preacher. 143

they lived, and seemed to make it more doubt-
ful whether they should leave or not.

But when Presbytery reluctantly consented
to their going, it seemed that the matter had
been taken out of their hands, and the dear
young people, with swelling hearts and tear-
stained eyes, submitted to the decision, and be-
gan the painful task of preparing the people for
their going, and to dismantle the sweet cabin
home thev had loved so well. We will draw the
veil before the sad picture, extending our con-
dolence to the people who were giving them up,
and congratulating ourselves that we are to fol-
low them to their new home.

4

i

Book 11.

CHAPTEK I.

Into the IJNKNOWisr.

FULLY seventy miles west of the scene
where the first chapters of this story were

laid is a small settlement composed chiefly of
the families of men employed in the adjacent
mica mines.

A small valley of several hundred acres runs
np hetween two spurs of a high range of moun-
tains— a fertile valley watered by a limpid
stream that abounds in the famous speckled
trout, and lying quite three thousand feet above
the level of the sea.

And it is in this valley that the settlement of
Mineville lies.

There are numerous coves indented in the
mountains about the settlement, inhabited bv
men whose sole vocation seems to be a little fish-
ing in summer, hunting in the fall, and loafing
in the winter, while the women cook for them,
gathering their own wood and living lives of lit-
tle more industry than the men, saving in this
particular branch.

148 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

They catcli no inspiration from the march
of science into their mountains, nor from the
men in their neighborhood who have come there
to work.

Their highest ambition is no higher than the
ownership of a mountain mule, which they
would be too poor to keep, or the possession of a
banjo, which they would never be able to keep in
tune if thev owned.

There is this one thing to be said for them.
They are certainly not worse than their fathers
or grandfathers before them.

They never knew anyone in their neighbor-
hood who lived any better than themselves, and
it must be a rare occasion that would inspire
them with sufficient energy to go to the county
seat for court week.

On such occasions they hitch up the oxen, if
they own one, or, maybe, "borry" from some
neighbor who is too indifferent to go himself,
and then, if it be summer time, they gather a
bushel or two of the fine apples or peaches that
thrive so well in those sheltered coves, and with
the addition of several pones of corn bread, and
of the inevitable jug of peach or apple brandy,
they start off fully equipped for the journey
and for the sights of the town.

As one may readily imagine, these men are

Eeuhen Dclton, Preacher. 149

not athletic, nor are the women reared in these
coves Ilebes, though one may occasionally meet
with wonderfully pretty and bright-faced chil-
dren among them.

We all know how much environment tells.
We read much of the simple food that charac-
terized the fare of the hardy Scotch, and that
was supposed to nourish the splendid brains of
that land, but a simple diet of oatmeal and good
milk was very different from that upon which
the dwellers in hundreds of these mountain
coves in the mountain ranges of the South live.
How can one expect either bodily or mental
development from a class that live on a diet of
ill-fed i^ovh with only the coarsest corn
bread ?

If you question this, reader, ask some of the
brave souls who have heard the Master's call
and are now seeking to redeem these lost sheep,
and to bring them to Christ and to civilization.

It was court week at the county town nearest
to Mineville, and one evening just as the sun
was setting behind the high spur of the Blue
Ridge, at the foot of which the village nestled, a
neat, new-covered wagon drove do^\Ti to the clear
stream that ran not five hundred yards away.
There was a good camping place on the banks,
but there were already two small two-wheeled

150 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

ox-carts on the spot ; and it was evident tliat the
occupants proposed to spend the night, for they
were quite leisurely taking off the ropes which
served as the onlv harness on the oxen.

The men were rough and unkempt, and while
they might have been very harmless, certainly
did not have that appearance.

Reuben Delton — for, of course, it is Reuben
and Martliy who we have caught up with at last
— Reuben was no coward, as we know, but he
did not feel that he had any right to subject
Marthy to the possibility of any rudeness these
men might show.

He addressed the men pleasantly.

^^Good evening, strangers !"

"Evenin' !" one man responded, the other gave
an indifferent nod, and followed it up by a hard
stare at each of them in turn.

"Is there any good stopping house near where
I can ffet lodeino; for mv wife and little bov ?"

"Yas," the spokesman replied. "I 'low they'll
take you' ims in up at Kinley's. Whar you 'uns
stay w^'en you stay at home? An' whar you

'uns ffoin' ?"

These questions followed so quickly on the in-
formation given in reference to a stopping place
that Reuben felt compelled to gratify their curi-
osity before asking where the house was.

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 151

^'WeVe come from over in Waiitauga county,
and are going to settle about thirty miles beyond
here."

By this time both the men were examining
the harness, and every part of the wagon, and
peering curiously inside, where Marthy sat, and
from whence little Greyson was staring at them
with a doubtful expression of pleasure on his
face.

^'This you 'uns wagon, I 'low. Hit must ha'
cost a sight ! That be your woman in thar ?
How old's yer little un ?"

There is no telling how many more questions
Keuben would have been plied with if he had
not learned how to put a stop to this sort of
thing.

He looked at them quite pleasantly, and then
getting up into the wagon and taking the reins
from ]\Iarthy, said, ^^Yes, friends, this is my
wagon, and this is my wife, and that's my little
boy, and now I must say good-bye, for it is late.
Good evening."

^^Evenin' " thev called after him as he drove
into the ford of the pretty stream.

^'Preacher," said ^Earthy, softly, laying her
hand on Tteuben's arm, ^^it hurts me worse to
cross a river than to cross a mountain; water
seems to separate you so from what's behind

vou."

152 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

Reuben laid his unemployed hand on her's
affectionately and said, with a smile, ^^Oh ! I
don't think so, little woman. It's just like you
to have a different ^think' about it from other
people. Water is a lot easier to cross than moun-
tains."

Marthy brushed a tear away furtively. She
had tried so hard to be brave, and had stood the
ordeal of the grief of the people, and of saying
good-bye, and of packing and turning her back
on the mountain manse with a courage that
Eeuben was proud of, but when they reached
their camping j^lace the first night, and had fin-
ished supper and prayers, and had laid down on
their pallet, and both Reuben and little Grey-
son were asleep, she had given way for the first
time to her grief, and with the child-like sim-
plicity of the little Marthy we used to know,
had cried with deep sobs : ^^O God ! please for-
give me. I mean to do thy will, but I must cry
a little bit. Please give me strength to be cheer-
ful and to help my husband as a true wife
should." She cried herself to sleep, and waked
in the morning strengthened and refreshed and
satisfied that her prayer had been heard.

A long rocky hill road led up from the ford of
the river into Farmville, and at the summit of
the hill, and the first house in the village, stood

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 153

"Kinley's/' as the men had called the village
hotel, with its pretentious sign, ^The Famiville
Hotel.'' It was a long, two-storied house, with
a piazza running the length of the house, shaded
by four or five splendid hemlock trees.

Eeuben had decided that Marthy and Greyson
should spend the night here, while he slept in
the wagon to guard their baggage.

It was an exciting thing to the simple-hearted
preacher's wife to sleep in even such a hotel as
this was, and they had more than one laugh over
her questions. She did not remember ever hav-
ing done so, excepting the time when Miss
Greyson had taken her to Asheville while she
was a school 2;irl.

"Preacher, what do you say when you go in ?
Must you sit down a while or ask for your room ?
There'll be some summer boarders there, I
know; they are everywhere now-a-days. I won-
der what they'll say to us ? I wonder if we'll
get a good supper ? Must I put a clean dress on
baby ?"

Reuben was much amused, but his reply was
so sensible that Marthy found her nervousness
allayed by it, and admired her husband more
than ever.

• "Just be yourself, little woman. Don't try
to appear what you are not. I think you are

154

Reuben Delton, Preacher.

hard to beat, and ^vill be glad to show my wife
to any snmmer boarders we may find here. I
donbt if you get sncli a supper as you can cook,
but don't make out that you can't eat. Put a
clean apron on the boy, for, whatever we do,
or don't do, we want to look like respectable
folks. We owe that to the Master."

They drove up to the gate, and the landlord
came out, and Reuben explained the situation
and helped Marthy and the little boy out.

Greyson's big brown eyes were wide open Avith
wonder.

"Mummie, vere dis ? Vat ve dittin' out for ?"

Just in front of the entrance there was a group
consisting of the judge and several lawyers
and a few summer giiests ; at the other end of
the long piazza several ladies were gathered.

The young couple attracted attention at once.

^'That's a fine-looking fellow," said the judge
to one on the lawvers sittins: bv him. ^'He is to
the manner born, too, I reckon ; and the little
wife — look how well she carries herself ! The
boy is just such a lookino- child as vou would
expect to hear call that fellow papa ! I say,
Kinley !" he called to the landlord after they
had disappeared in the house, ^Svho are your
friends ?"

^T don't know them, judge, but they regis-

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 155

tered as Reuben Delton, wife and child, Wau-

?j

tanga

While this conversation was going on Marthy
had been taken to a room and Eeuben had gone
out to lT>ok after Deliaht and Jobo. He came
in, and after liavino; done his share of washing
and hair brushing, they went down to supper,
which they took in company with several sum-
mer boarders who had just returned from a
mountain scramble and were seated at the ex-
treme end of the table from them.

The first glance at our friends left the im-
pression on at least one of the company that
they were ^^just mountain people," and she
turned her attention to the fried chicken and hot
biscuits, for which she seemed to have an un-
limited capacity ; but there were two others pres-
ent who were better students of physiognomy,
and as we are privileged, reader, let us listen to
them while the Deltons finish their supper.

"Madge, look at that young man's face ; he is
better than handsome; and notice how he car-
ries himself."

"Yes, he is fine looking. His eyes especially
so, and his broAv is good," replied the younger
woman, criticallv.

"Why, my dear, he is a prince in Jeans ! And
his wife is nice looking, too ; quite pretty when

156

Reiihen Delton, Preacher.

??

she smiles. The boy is a splendid little fellow.

"They can't be common people, Tante, for see
what nice table manners. Let's try to inter-
view them after supper." All this was said in
tones too low to be heard by the Deltons, who
left the table before the others.

While they were standing at the end of the
nnr ailed porch, and Reuben was pointing to
Marthy where the last view of the Wautauga
mountains could be seen, the ladies who had
commented on them at table drew near and
politely asked some questions by way of making
acquaintance.

Then they stooped to notice Greyson, but the
child was tired and clune: shvlv to his mother's
dress.

"S]Deak to the ladies, Greyson," said Marthy,
taking his hand up suggestively.

"How d'ye, ladies," said the little man, and
oifering his hand, though the tears welled up in
his lovelv eves.

"Tell the ladies your name now," said Marthy
with a quick perception that this would be the
pleasantest way to introduce herself.

"Geysie Delton ; Preacher Deltons' boy."

"This is Mrs. Delton then," said the elder
lady, cordially, "and I am Mrs. Thurston, and
this is my niece, Miss Traymor. We are glad

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 157

to meet yon. Have you made a long trip to-
day V

Keiiben had joined the crowd of men at the
other end of the porch after he had answered
the questions put to him, for he wanted Marthy
to be thrown upon herself, feeling sure that she
would in this way best overcome her shyness.

"^o'm/' said Marthy in reply to Mrs. Thurs-
ton's question.

"We have only come about thirty miles to-
day, but that is good travelling over mountain
roads, and with a heavy load."

Miss Traymor had brought some chairs, and
Marthy, thanking her, accepted one ^nd took
her little boy on her lap.

In a few moments she found herself talk-
ing quite freely to these cordial people. She
told them when they had left home, and that
they were moving away, at least for a while.

"And may I ask how much further you are
going V^ asked the younger lady in a tone of in-
terest.

"I think my husband said it is about thirty
miles farther."

"And so you are going to a new home ?" asked
Mrs. Thurston. Both watched Marthy with in-
terest.

"Yes," said Marthy, a shadow falling on her

158 Reiiben Delton, Preacher.

bright face as she spoke. ''My husband is a
preacher, and Ave are going over about thirty
miles from here to a mining settlement."

Mar thy found herself telling in her simple,
earnest way the story of their mountain work,
and of their strong conviction that it was the
dutv of everv educated Christian mountaineer
to uplift those about him.

These people from another And distant place,
with verv crude notions as to the mountain
whites of the South, looked into the earnest and
refined face of this young mountain woman w^ith
a new interest. And thev found themselves
looking Tip, and not down, though, according to
the world's estimate, they occupied a much
higher social elevation.

The air was growing chill, the little boy had
cuddled up in his mother's arms and was almost
asleep.

"I must get you to excuse me, ladies," Marthy
said with a smile. ''This boy ought to be in
bed, for we must make an early start in the
morning."

"Are you going so soon ? ^Vhy, we are sorry,"
said Miss Travmor, who felt sure that she had
come upon a new and very interesting phase of
mountain character.

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 159

''Yes, we must be off as soon after dayliglit
as my husband can get bis team fed and bitched
up. We will not wait for breakfast. I will
cook that at tbe first good spring we come to."

''Good-bye tben ! I wisb yon all prosperity
and success in your new bome," said Mrs. Thurs-
ton, cordially.

"Good-bye," returned Marthy, and added,
cordially, "If in some of your mountain tramps
you should come near Peach Cove, we will be
glad to see you."

Miss Trajmior stood silently for a few mo-
ments watching Marthy's retreating figure, and
a strange new pang of envy filled her heart for
a moment.

"She is living ; living means growth, it means
fruitfulness. What have I ever done to prove
that I am truly living ?"

At breakfast table the next morning, as the
ladies began to assemble, the judge called out,
"Who made the acquaintance of the preacher's
nice little wife? If she is as bright and as
clever in her way as her husband, she was worth
cultivating."

"Ask Auntie," replied Miss Traymor, "if
you want to hear from an enthusiastic admir-
er !" and she glanced smilingly at Mrs. Thurs-
ton.

160 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

^^She was certainly an extremely attractive
woman, and talks well; and if her husband is
as brave and earnest as she is, they will do a
grand work.''

"Well, he is a fine fellow. What a specimen
of manhood he is ! Erect, with well-knit limbs,
with not a siiperfluons ponnd of flesh, and a
light in his eye of healthy, intelligent purpose
that is perfectly refreshing to see."

It was Judge Carroman who spoke, and
doubtless he would have been glad if Reuben
Delton could have returned the compliment.
His own figure being small and slender, and his
Avhole appearance indicating that he was reap-
ing now what was left of the wild oats crop of
his vouth.

"He uses good, strong English, too," re-
marked the professor, approvingly.

"Educated away from this region, I guess ?"
asked some one.

"^ot until after he entered the Theological
Seminary, he told me," said the judge. "I am
very glad to know that the schools throughout
this part of our State are being taken in hand
as a part of the church's work. Religion and
education ought to go hand in hand," he added,
sententiously.

"How can they?" asked a young man who

I

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 161

had just taken his place at the table. He asked
in such a contemptuons tpne that Judge Carro
man felt the sluggish blood mount to his cheeks.
Somehow, the question seemed to lay bare his
inconsistency, for he knew how far ahead his
intellectual attainments were in comparison
with the spiritual gifts that should be possessed
by a man holding such an opinion. He did not
reply, indeed, he had not time, for Mrs. Thurs-
ton said quietly, ^'You speak doubtingly, Mr.
Seymour, but you will find happily that many
wise and brioiit men believe this consistentlv."

!Now the young man had no idea of entering
into an argument on this tiresome subject, least
of all, with a woman ; and then he did not wish
to irritate Mrs. Thurston, for she was really the
least boring to him of all the women in the
house, so that he only replied by bowing his
haughty, handsome head and shrugging his
shoulders.

^^It takes all my energy to discuss the steak
this morning, Mrs. Thurston, so you will surely
excuse my replying," and he began to exert his
energy at once.

While this conversation was going on Reuben
and Marthy were wending their way slowly
over roads that seemed to ffrow more rockv as
they advanced.

162 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

Thej had started at five o'clock, and had
reached the spring, where they had been ad-
vised to breakfast, by seven.

Reuben had made Marthy's fir© for their
simple meal, reqiTiring only heat enough to
boil the water for their coffee, and coals upon
which to broil the meat, for they were well sup-
plied with cold bread.

^'We did well when we set the stove in that
box, didn't we, preacher ? It has not jostled one
bit. But won't we be glad when we can set it
up and have a good meal of hot food once more ?"

"Yes'h, mummie, an' hot bisky, too!" re-
marked Greyson, taking part unexpectedly in
the conversation, greatly to the amusement of
his parents.

This day's journey took them through some
beautiful countrv, but what both missed out of
the landscape, more than they could tell, were
those distant views, those glimpses of ethereal
beauty that seemed to link heaven and earth so
closely over in Wautauga.

Marthy thought, with swelling heart, that it
was like a house would be w^ithout a mother in
it, and she stifled a sob as she wondered how
she could live without this constant reminder of
heaven.

The valleys were rich, the meadows showed

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 163

that the crops had been fine, the high wooded
hills that shut them like giant hedges were gor-
o-eoiis with thousands of tints, for there was a
wonderful variety of forest trees, and every
family carefully preserved its own shade of
color.

The beautiful stream by which the road
wound, or occasionally crossed, added the charm
of its limj)id water to the scene.

There were farm houses every few miles along
this fertile valley, many of them comfortable
homes.

At one where they stopped to water they were
greeted with especial cordiality.

"Come in an' eat dinner, strangers, "an' tell
whar you 'uns is goin'" said the hospitable old
man. "ISTervy !" he called to his wife, "come out
yere an' tell w'at yer got fur dinner, an' mebby
ther strangers'll stop over."

"isTervy" came to the door, folloAved by two
young women, two small boys, and, lastly and
very slowly, by a decrepit old woman.

The wife had a kindly pleasant face, and fol-
lowed up her husband's invitation by saying,
"Won't you 'light, stranger, an' take ther bes' we
'uns kin give you ? Your little b'y an' yer crit-
ters'll be ther better fur it."

After a moment's consultation, Eeuben de-

164 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

cided that it might be well to stop, though they
had fifteen miles of rough road to travel yet.

^^We ought to know all the people Avithin
twenty miles of our cove, I think, Marthy.''
Then he turned and said, ^'Well, sir, I believe
we will stop with you, as you are so kind. We
were going to take dinner by the roadside to-day,
but won't be sorrv to ffet a hot one."

^^That's it ! that's it ! 'lioiit an' come in ! An'
w'at mought yer name be, an' whar d' you come
f rum ?"

^'My name is Reuben Delton. I am a preacher,
and I'm going over in the neighborhood of
Peach Cove to settle for a while and do mv Mas-
ter's work. We come from Wautauga, between
Blowing Rock and Linville, where I have
worked for four vears."

^'Well ! well ! Do say ! I'm monst'ous glad
ter feed a preacher ; so is jSTervy. Come in !
come in !" he repeated as Marthy, putting little
Greyson in his father's arms, got dow^n from the
wagon.

1^0 princely owner of one of the country's
palatial homes could have offered more cordial
welcome than he did as he held open the gate
heavilv leaded with old iron to make it shut to.

They passed through and up into the porch,
shaking hands with the old woman, whose

Eeuhen DeUon, Preacher. 165

wrinkled, loatlierv face had caught some of the
glow of her son's hospitality.

There was a great commotion, not only in the
house, hut in the hack yard, by this time, and
as the chickens were making decided demonstra-
tions of disapproval, it was reasonable to sup-
pose that they w^ere to have fried chicken for
dinner !

As she stepped on to the piazza, Marthy said,
''We will just sit here. It is so nice and cool,
and my little boy can run around out doors."

''Well," said old Mrs. Curder, "but you mus'
rest your hat a while an' make yerself gen' ally
comfortable. l\Iy name is Curder ; w'at mought
vourn be ?"

She had not heard Eeuben give his name to
^^Fr. Curder.

"I do sav !" she exclaimed in tones of great
delight when Marthy gave her name and told
her that her husband was a preacher.

Reuben had unharnessed Delight and Jobo,
the fine little mule, and had taken them to the
stable yard, where his host was probably putting
him through a catechism as to his past life and
future plans. And Marthy, on the porch, with
a patient consideration born partly of her sym-
pathy with all innocent curiosity, and partly of
her understanding of these lives shut in to the

166 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

monotonous living where tlie windows of books
and papers never open to give them glimpses
of the world beyond — Marthy was telling of
her home, of her school days, and of her friend,
Miss Grey son; of her marriage, and of her life
at the mountain manse.

" 'Pears like it were a monst'ons pity yon
'nns tu'nned yer backs on yer people an' yer
honse to come so far. Whar you 'uns be go-
in' ?"

^^Oh ! but there's so much to do for people,
and so many worse off than we are, and we are
going to try to find some and help them. We
are going over to Peach Cove. You know that
new mining settlement, Mineville ?"

Mrs. Curder stepped to the door just in time
to hear Marthv's last remark.

"Peach Cove! Lors, honey, you 'uns don'
know whar you're goin' ! Wy, Tim Curder
kin tell vou ther ain't no sich a God-forsaken
neighborhood no whar in ^orth Caliny, I
reckon !"

Marthv shuddered when she heard this, but
replied almost instantly, "That makes it all the
more necessary for us to go. And it was for
such sinners that Jesus died. Don't you believe
that, Mrs. Curder ?"

"Well, honey, it do say so, but it do 'pear

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 167

migiitv hard ter b'lieve it wiis sich as Peach
Cove folks !''

Just then one of the yoimg women came to
the door and said, ^^Mar, ther dinner is sot/'
which Mrs. Cnrder followed np by rising and
saying, ^^Come in, Miss Delton, an' welcome."

From the porch the men were summoned by
a horn, and in a few moments Reuben followed
Marthy to the table where Mr. Curder asked
him to ^^make a beginnin'." This being the old
man's quaint way of requesting him to ask a
blessing, which Reuben did reverently, asking
a blessing for the f amilj^ as well as for the food.

"An' now you see w'ats befo' you, an' you
'uns is welcome to all you 'uns kin eat, an' if
yer caint fin' nothin' ter please ye, w'y, you kin
jest set back yer chair an' leave."

He rubbed his hands together in deep satis-
faction, and was evidently highly pleased with
the appearance of the table, which was abund-
antly supplied with everything they could fur-
nish on such short notice.

Reuben and Marthv, accustomed to these
kindly mountain hospitalities, knew how to as-
sure them that they would find no trouble mak-
ing a hearty meal.

Dinner, even where there is such an abund-
ant "spread" as the generous hospitality of the

168 Reiihen Delton, Preacher.

Cnrders had provided, is not a very long meal
with the mountaineers, and the Deltons had
soon finished dinner and were on the porch
again.

"Well, preacher, I wish yon 'nns didn't feel
called on ter c;o on this evenin'. We'd trv ter fin'
ye a place ter sleep."

"We are sure of that, ^Er. Cnrder, but we
must get on as far as we can. We hope, though,
to come to see you again some day. This boy
seems to be pretty well satisfied here." Reuben
turned to look at Greyson, who was walking
about with a boy on either side.

"Mr. Cnrder," added Eeuben, ^^you and Mrs.
Curder have put yourselves to a lot of trouble
for us. I wish you would let me pay you."

"Well ! well I do you 'uns over in Wautauga
let your frien's pay Av'en they come to see you ?
Iso, sir ! Tim Curder ain't no great shakes in
religion, but he counts it a mighty good day
w'en he gits a chance ter feed a sure 'nough
preacher an' his wife an' chile."

And he shook his head so positively that
Reuben put up his pocket book, and after good-
byes had been said, and promises to come again
had been made, thev drove off.

Late in the afternoon thev reached the Cross
Roads, where they had been advised to stop for

Eeiihen DeJton, Preacher. 169

at least the last night of their journey. It was
two miles over rough roads to Mineville, and
Reuben had been told that it would not be pos-
sible for them to find a stopping place there.

The house was a dingy, unpainted two-storied
buikling, altogether unattractive in appearance.

When they stopped in front of the house
there were two rough-looking men smoking on
the porch.

"Good evening/' said Reuben; "is this
Measons ?"

"Wa-al, mabby so/' replied one in a tone of
perfect indifference. The other, however,
roused up^ and, taking his pipe from his mouth,
said, "Ef you 'uns is summer boarders, we 'uns
caint take vou 'uns in. It takes nio'li on ter
half a dav to oit thing's fixed, an' then thev don'
suit ther fool notions of sich."

Reuben laughed out in such a good-natured,
contagious way that a sour smile crept about the
man's mouth.

"Why, no ! We are just Wautauga countv
people, and we are bound for ^Mineville, but I
was told we had better stop with you to-night if
vou could take us in."

*j

"W'at moufi'ht be ver name ?" asked the first
man, showing considerably more interest than
at first.

170

Reuben Delton, Preacher.

^'My name is Delton, and tliis is my wife,
and this is my little boy/' lie added, laying his
hand on the head of the sleeping child.

By this time a tall, thin, sour-faced woman,
with a baby in her arms, had come to the door,
and a yonng girl was peeping round the corner
of the house.

^'Be you ther preacher I heerd wus a-comin'
over ter Peach Gove neighborhood ?"

They seemed actually to have forgotten
Reuben's questions as to lodgings, but it was
only seeming forgetfulness. They were really
trying to satisfy themselves that these were
really mountain j)eople. And Reuben and
Marthy said afterwards that they had never
come nearer disoAvning their work than they
did that evening, for they saw that there was a
strong prejudice against summer boarders, and
feared that it might extend to preachers and
their wives. It was not that the house appeared
very inviting, but that, from all accounts, they
might go further and fare worse.

^'Yes'm, I am the man, and I hoj)e that I am
going to find as many friends over here as we
left behind us in Wautauga. My wife and I
were both raised over there."

A scowl lowered on the face of the first man to
w]iom Reuben had spoken, and he turned away.

Reuben Delton, Preacher. Ill

The other one said, '''Well, yon 'nns kin 'light
ef ther ole woman's willin' ter git ye a bite o'
snpper. AYe 'nns ate an honr ago."

He tnrned and looked over his shonlder at
his wife, and she responded with a nod, for she
saw an opportnnity for mnch investigation and
mncli gossip.

"We 'nns don' set no store particklar by
preachers. The meanest man in this connty
calls himself a preacher, an' ther ain't no man
kin beat him in a hoss trade, bnt," he added
with a feeble smile, "von don' look that aways."

Renben was on his gnard, and made no reply
to the last remark, bnt took Grevson in his arms
and helped !Marthy to the gronnd.

As they passed throngh the gateway, the
woman stepped down from the door-sill and
gave a little nod in response to jMarthy's "good

evening."

She led the wav to a room at the other end of
the porch, and, opening the door, said, "Yon
kin iest lay vonr baby donn till ve s^it readv ter
tnrn in yerself."

There were three beds in the room, all cov-
ered with dirty homespnn spreads. The floor
was dirty. On the walls himg several snits of
clothing in various degrees of shabbiness, with
hats to match. The air was foul with the odors

172 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

of tobacco smoke and wliiskey that had been con-
fined there, nobody knows how long, for every
window was do^^Ti.

Marthy shnddered at the idea of laving her
sweet, clean boy on snch a bed, and, standing at
the door, she made an excnse to get something
out of the wagon, still holding Greyson in her
arms.

"I think," she said, ^'T will get a shawl to
wrap him in. Can I have a fire ?"

"La ! yes. Yon Ma'y Jane, you Liny ! come
ver some o' von 'uns an' ketch up a fire. Ther
b'ys mos' alters make it w^'en they come in. You
need'n bother ter git you a shawl, jes double
ther kiver over him."

"I'll need the shawl," Marthy replied very
firmly, and she went out to the wagon, followed
by Mrs. ]\Ieason, who was evidently intent upon
seeing all she could of Marthy's belongings.

There was little sleep that night for the Del-
tons, even after thev had aired the room and
had provided themselves surreptitiously with
sheets from the wagon. It was not a new expe-
rience for Reuben, who had spent many nights
away up in the mountains in cabins where the
whole family occupied the same room and slept
on the floor, but it was certainly a new expe-
rience for Marthy. LTer people were very poor,

Reiiben Delton, Preacher. 173

but they had preserved the traditions of a re-
spectable ancestry, and had been aided in keep-
ing them by association with a class of people
who were sufficiently well-to-do to afford many
of the comforts the Lesters did not possess.

For months after that first night spent at
!A[eason's Cross Eoads, Ifarthv was moved to
lauohter and to tears by the recollection of her
experiences.

^^They called me a ^living interrogation point'
at school, preacher, but all the questions I ever
asked would hardly count up to the questions
Mrs. Meason put to me that night before you
came in, and such questions !"

Before thev retired Reuben said, "Mr.
Meason, at home we always read a few verses
from the Bible, and pray to God to keep us
safely through the ni^ht. Would you let me
have family prayers here ?"

"Well, ve kin if you're a min' to. I don' take
no stock in any sich myself."

He lighted his pipe and tilted his chair
against the side of the chimney with a defiant
air.

"I'm sorry for vou then," said Reuben
quietly. "I've never seen a man vet who tried
to serve God, and who read his Bible and prayed,
but was a better citizen and a happier man. I

174: Reuben Delton, Preacher.

hope I shall be able to make you think so too
some day. Just listen to this," he added, open-
ing his Bible quickly and reading a short
passage from the gospel of Matthew, explain-
ing as he read.

Mrs. Meason had gone to the water bucket
and was getting a drink, when Reuben said
firmly but gently, ^'Mrs. Meason, this is God's
book ; won't vou sit down while I read ? I
think we ought to respect our Bibles as if they
were living messengers from God."

Mrs. Meason sat down in utter astonishment.
This man was different from any preacher she
had yet seen.

^^I\^ow let us kneel down while I pray."
It is doubtful if Mr. Meason had ever bent
his knees in prayer before, but there was that in
Reuben's manner that compelled not only re-
spect, but acquiescence, so that he took his pipe
from his mouth and kneeled down. His wife
did so too, but the two girls, who had just come
into the room, leaned up against the wall and
tittered in a silly way.

When they rose from their knees, Meason
said in a half-serious manner, "Well, now, who
writ that book, anvwavs? That's w'at I been
a-tryin' ter git at. These yer preachers w'at
come 'long yere, they don' fool wid it long

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 175

ernough. ter know. Ther's one over yander in
Hickry Cove — well, he don' own a Bible ter
his name. He 'lows ter fin' one in ther pulpit,
an' liaint no use fur 'em nowhar else."

Reuben did not know of this particular case,
but, alas ! he knew it to be only too true in many
other instances. He sat down patiently to ex-
plain to this illiterate skeptic how the Bible had
been given to man, and to show him, if possible,
how it had influenced men, directly or indi-
rectly, ever since it had been written; and he
did it with all the more hopefulness the man
had no unused opportunities to look back on,
as have so many of the educated skeptics and
hypercritics of to-day.

The man, although he listened attentively,
seemed more interested in the "differ'nce," as
he called it, between Reuben and the other
preachers of his acquaintance than in the au-
thenticity of the scriptures.

"Well, I do say! You beats all!" he ex-
claimed, surveying Reuben critically, with his
head on one side. "You're ther fust preacher
ever I seed that took time ter preach o' week
days, an' that ter jest two or three folks ! An'
you in jeans jest like ther rest of us, too !"

CHAPTER II.

The Friends They Left Behin^d.

WHILE Eeiiben and Martliy Helton are
settling down in their new quarters let
US go back awhile to look np our friends in the
Evergreen neighborhood, and in the jail at
Boone.

The decision of the Heltons to go away had
produced a wonderful amount of feeling in the
hearts of the people among whom they had lab-
ored so faithfully; but the very power that
Heuben had gained over them helped to recon-
cile them, at least in a measure, to the move.

^'Preacher Helton feels called to go. He
never did feel called to do nothin' wrong since
I've knoAvd him,'' said 'Squire Farnham to the
congregation when the matter was first brought
before them. ^'He has taught us to believe that
ther bes' way ter serve God is to obey him, an'
I reckon we aire jest as much called on ter give
him up es he is ter go." The 'squire passed his
hand across his eves where there was a sus-
picious film.

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 177

There were distinct sobs from various parts
of the little building.

Mr. Mooney rose to his feet and said, "Well,
I don' wanter question no providentil dealings,
ther all wise, but I do say thet, ter my min',
ther man thet has brimg Evergreen church ter
w'at it is at now, w'y, he's ther man ter stay
thar! That's plumb sure?" he added, with a
violent gesture and a stamp of his foot that car-
ried conviction to some at least, for there were
cries of "That's so!" "Amen!" "You hit it
thar !" and other expressive remarks.

"Squire Farnham, who was a devoted friend
of Eeuben's and a most sensible man, saw that
Mooney's remarks were only adding fuel to the
fire of discontent, and he rose to his feet and re-
plied, "IsTow, brother Mooney, you jest set down
an' listen to me a minute. An' le' me call your
attention, brethren an' sisters, ter two things.
Fust, both Preacher Delton an' ther Presbytery
sees differ'nt from you 'uns, an' we've got ter be
I'yal ter ther powers that be in church as well
as State. Second, it don't faller thet Preacher
Delton's a-goin' away fur good an' all. Don't
ye 'low we kin afford ter be gin'rous ter our
neighbors fur a while ? Ef ther wus some one
mighty bad off over t' your house, an' I wus
jest merely po'ly, you'd think powerful strange

178 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

of me ef I wouldn' want ther doctor to 'tend ter
YOU, wouldn't you ?"

The old man said all this with a persuasive
tone that was truly eloquent, and the effect was
jolainly perceptible.

Some one called out, ^^Well, see here, 'squire,
we 'uns caint spare our doctor too long. Wen's
he a-comin' back ?"

"Oh! I don' know," the 'squire responded
quickly ; "that's fur ther Lord ter decide. Wat
we've got ter do is ter go ahead an' open our
hearts ter this young preacher that's comin', an'
ter do our level bes' ter uphol' him in all he
does. The preacher tole us that that 'us w'at he
was a-goin' ter expect of us, an' we don' wanter
disapp'int him."

The last remark was a master stroke of policy.
The women especially were stimulated by the
thought that Preacher Delton was expecting
good things of them, and the congregational
meeting broke up in harmony, and with the peo-
ple resolved to bear the burden of their grief
in hope, and to stand by the new preacher.

It had been known shortlv after the news of
the Deltons o^oins; awav had o'otten out that Dr.
Thornlev wanted to rent the mountain manse,
and it had surprised people, but only for a little
while, for just the week before the Deltons left

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 179

the doctor had called at the gate and asked
Reuben if he and Marthy would not come over
to 'Squire Farnham's the next afternoon. Some-
thing in the expression of his face told on him,
and Reuben broke into a hearty laugh, exclaim-
ing, ^^Why, Thornley, I do believe that you are
inviting us to your marriage !" Whereupon the
doctor, blushing and laughing himself, said,

"You are right, Delton, as you 'most always
are. I tried to get Linnie to tell Mrs. Delton
Sunday, but she was as bashful as I am. We
got engaged the day after Mandy Snoggs' fune-
ral, and did not expect to get married yet
awhile, but neither one of us wanted anybody
but you to marry us, and so we are hurrying
things up."

"Well, you have found a treasure, and ought
to thank God for giving you the love of such a
girl. And, my friend, the best expression of
your gratitude would be for you to pledge your-
self henceforth to live for him," added Reuben
as he grasped the doctor's hand warmly.

Dr. Thornley replied, earnestly, "You're
right, preacher, I made up my mind that night
that T spent up at Handy' s with your wife and
Linnie that there was just one way to be a true
man or a true woman, and that was by the grace

180 Reuben Belton, Preacher.

of God. I don't doubt but what that's the secret
of your religion and tlieir's too."

And so before Reuben Delton left Wautauga
he had the happiness of receiving Dr. Thornley
into Evergreen church, and of marrying him to
Linnie Famham.

And as if all that could be done to soothe the
pain of their leaving was done, Dr. Thornley, as
we have said, rented the manse, bought Moo
Moo, the pet cow, and had promised to take the
young preacher, who was coming within a

month, to board.

And now let us turn to Dan Euger's story
since the day he had been locked up in the

Boone jail.

After Keuben Delton said good-bye to the
poor fellow, and he heard the men go down the
long passage, and then down stairs, it suddenly
seemed that Ruger realized all that had come
upon him, and all that was before him, and the
old Dan Ptuger seemed to wake to life again.
lie sprang to the door and strove to burst it
open ; he rushed to the window and vainly
strove to break the iron bars.

Foul words burst forth ; he threw himself on
the dirty floor and writhed there in a mortal
struirde. He cursed Reub Delton, and then
cursed himself for surrendering. The thought

Beuhen Delton, Preacher. 181

of being caged here was worse than the thought
of death.

Accustomed as he had been for years to the
freedom of a wild life, sleeping most of the
time either on the ground, or in some cave, the
narrow, pent-up cell seemed like a coffin.

^^An' I don' know how long I've got ter stan'
it! I'll kill myself, that's w'at!" he thought,
and thrust his hand into his pocket for his knife.
Eolling over as he did so, his eyes rested on the
Bible that Keuben had left him.

If he had suddenlv found himself confronted
by a living person, he could not have been more
startled or impressed.

^'0 God !" he cried, ^^O God ! have mercy on
me. I cain't stan' this; I'll kill myself ef you
don' help me! Ther's somethin' inside o' me
that feels like the devil had me."

He got up from the floor "all of a tremble,"
as he expressed it when telling Reuben about it,
and taking the Bible, he held it pressed against
him, as if there was some power in the very
book itself to ward off the assault of the devil.
And who can doubt that in that very impression
God was answering his prayer for help ? Certain
it was that he quieted down in a little while, and
opening the Bible where a page was tiirned
doAvn, he began to read. The verses marked

182 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

were the first four verses of tlie fifty-first
Psalm.

He sat on the edge of his cot bed, the only
seat the cell afforded, and read slowly, in the
waning afternoon light, the words that have been
the expression of penitent hearts for so many
ages. And he said to himself, ^^He never knoAved
nothin' 'bont John iii. 16 that the preacher kep'
a tellin' me about; but he jes' comed ter God
like he knowed he would forgive him, an' love
him, too."

He turned his leaves slowly. He was not
familiar with it, but he knew that Reuben had
surely marked that place, and he wanted to read
it again, and to get the comfort of it. He re-
membered what Reuben had said about God's
having put him here, so that he would have
time to study the Bible and to pray.

The thought of Reuben Delton from that time
on became balm for the poor fellow's spirit, and
he thought with shame and almost fear, ^^Wat
would ther preacher have thought ef he could
ha' heard all I wus sayin' awhile ago !" The
tears streamed from the eves so unused to them,
and before he knew it he was on his knees.

He had few words on his lips, but, as he told
Reuben when he made his last visit to the jail
before leaving, "I jest staid thar. It 'peared

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 183

like I felt nearer ter God, an' that he wus know-
in' w'at I wanted, an' how I felt 'thout my talk-
in'. Wus I right, preacher ?"

"Yes, you surely were right," said Reuben,
deeply touched by this simple and graphic de-
scription of true prayer.

That farewell visit was a sorrowful one to
Ruger, for it seemed to him that it would be
impossible for him to live a Christian life with-
out Reuben's friendship and help.

"Ah, Ruger !" said Delton, when the poor
fellow expressed his fear and his distress, "it is
a blessed thing to know that you have a better
Hel2>er than ever I could be," and he turned to
John xiv. and read Christ's promise concern-
ing the Holy Spirit.

"He who has convinced you of sin, and of a
judgment to come, will also teach you how to
read and how to live. But I will write to you.
I do not mean to forget you, my friend, and I
shall do all I can to help you. I have already
written to one of the best lawyers in this dis-
trict, and will also write to the governor. But
you must be patient, and gentle and cheerful,
and keep asking for grace to prove that you are
a changed man."

"One thing I want to ask you, Where was it
that you shot the man ? Over in Tennessee ?"

184 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

"^o, it were jest this side o' tlier l^orth
Calinv line/' replied Riiger, struggling with the
emotion that Reuben's thoughtful kindness had
awakened.

"That makes it all easier, and now let me
read you a few verses and pray with you, for I
must be going."

linger brushed his sleeve across his eyes and
handed his Bible to Reuben.

"Take my Bible, preacher. I like ter have
you han'le it ; and I wisht you'd mark some

more."

He had told Reuben of the terrible conflict
he had endured the first afternoon that he was
in jail.

"Preacher, you never had ter fight ther devil
an' verself , too, that-a-wav, did you ? AVhv, I
jest cussed you, and cussed myself, too, for
givin' up ter you !"

"Ah ! vou don't know how manv fio^hts I have
too. But there's where the comfort of religion
comes in. The Bible tells us we are to fight sin,
but it tells us how, and that God is on our side,
and so we are -more than conquerors through
him that loved us."

After he had prayed with him, Reuben, ris-
ing to go, took Ruger's hand and said, "]^^ow,
Ruger, when your heart and your faith fail you.

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 185

pray! Talk to God just as you would talk to
me. Study your Bible if you want to know how
to serye God. I haye marked some of the letters
Paul wrote while he was in jail. You can see
what God's grace did for him. I am going to
send you some books to read. If you keep your
mind busy, you can stand this life better. Re-
member you haye pleased God by confessing
your sins and giying yourself up, and that will
be in your f ayor when you come to be tried. As
soon as I hear that your case is coming up for
trialj please God, I will come oyer and stand by
you."

Ruger tried to speak, but the words seemed to
choke him. He could only place his other hand
oyer Reuben's for a moment, then, turning his
back, as he heard Simpson coming, he leaned his
head against the window and sobbed.

Reuben Delton stopped in the doorway of the
jail and said, "l^h\ Simpson, you know I am
going to leaye Wautauga soon. I haye a fayor
to ask of you before I go. It is that you will
treat Dan Ruger kindly. He has been a great
sinner; he knows it, but he has been sayed by
a great Sayior, and I belieye that under God he
was sayed by kind words."

In a few sentences Reuben told the story of
Marthy's first meeting with Ruger, then of the

186 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

scene at tlie spring, wlien little Greyson had
softened liis heart by love.

Simpson had begun to listen with something
of indifference, if not of scorn, for the friendly
interest manifested by the preacher in this out-
cast, but as, in his quiet, forceful way, Keuben
told the story of Kuger's conversion, the man's
head drooped, and he leaned up against the door
post, evidently much moved.

Several other men had gathered around the
steps and were listening, a gaping curiosity quite
in contrast to the feeling shown by the jailor.

Simpson looked up when Eeuben finished
speaking, and said in a tone of real penitence,
^'Preacher Delton, I never heard nothin' like
that before in my life. I don't wonder you feel
like vou do 'bout Dan Euo-er. I own I didn'
have much faith in him nur his perfessions. I
b'lieved he wus a foolin' you, but I hain't got
nuthin' furder ter say; an' I'm plumb 'shamed
of not treatin' you an' him no better."

He shook Delton's hand cordially, and the
latter o^ot into his bui>:2;y and drove off.

There had never been seen a larger crowd
gathered at Evergreen church than collected on
the last Sunday that Eeub Delton preached
there.

And it was quite a curiously mixed crowd.

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 187

for, in addition to the regular attendants, there
were many mountain people lured there by cu-
riosity, and also quite a sprinkling of ^ ^summer
boarders." Among others, there was a party of
gentlemen who had been fishing in the neighbor-
hood of Yalle Crucis for some days.

There was a little stir in the large congrega-
tion when Reuben announced his text: "For
God so loved the world that he gave his only
begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish, but have everlasting life.''

Many had never been to church before.
Reuben had tried in vain to induce them to
come. They had come only to hear the story of
^^Dan Ruger's takin."

And there were strangers there who he would
probably never see again, and he dared not, as
he had told Marthy the night before — "he dared
not let the opportunity pass to preach Christ
and him crucified."

There was something of quiet dignity and
of reverence in Reuben Delton's pulpit man-
ner, entirely independent of broadcloth and
clerical dress, that impressed the strangers at
once.

The key-note of his sermon was that wonder-
ful "whosoever." After dwelling on who it
was that sent, and who it was that came, and

188 • Reuben Delton, Preacher.

why, lie showed the contrast between the broad-
ness of God's invitations and the limitations of
onrs.

Then suddenly he began to tell the story of
Dan Rnger. Told of his white, haggard face at
Mandy Snoggs' window ; told of the swift prayer
of Marthy, and of the first kind words spoken
to him. And with vivid simplicity told of the
scene at the spring, their singing, the stealthy
approach of the outlaw, the loving baby arms
put 'round his neck ; and then he told the story
of their meeting on the mountain, of Ruger's
confession and conversion, and of his voluntary
surrender of his arms and of himself, and of his
taking him to jail.

There was a Avonderful eifectiveness in this
simple narrative illustrating God's love to sin-
ners.

All allusions to his own part in the story
were made briefly, and when he told of his
prayer with the outlaw, the intense stillness was
broken by sobs, and there were tears on many
faces.

"Dear friends," said Reuben, with his arms
outstretched in that tender winning way that
was especially attractive in him, "that same love
is for you ! That whosoever means you ! It was
love that won Dan Ruger, and Dan Ruger in

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 189

jail to-day is a free man for tlie first time in his
life, and the truth hath made him free.''

The simple services closed with a hymn, which
Reuben announced as ^^the h}Tiin Euger is so
fond of."

" I am so glad that my Father in heaven."

After a recess for dinner Reuben Delton
preached his farewell sermon from 2 Corin-
thians xiii. 11.

'Squire Farnham said after it was over, "Ef
you never had known Preacher Delton before,
you'd ha' known w'at manner of man he wus
from that sermon. I hadn' but one fault to fin'
with it. I never did love ter do my weepin' in
public, but I jest cried to-day along with the
women folks !"

Wesley Conway, the young man who was to
follow Reuben Delton as pastor of Evergreen
church, was a mountaineer too, though from an-
other State. And he w^as also a classmate of
Reuben's at the Seminary, and spent a part of
a summer with him in evangelistic work, so
that he was not an entire stranger to the people.

And now, with this peep at the friends the
Delton's had left behind them, let us return to
Meason's Cross Roads and see what had become
of them.

CHAPTEK III.

-, "

" 'Tis home where're the heart is.

IT was now the second week of October. The
weather was lovelv, bnt the air was siiffi-
cientlj frosty to remind Keiiben that he had no
time to lose in bnilding.

He had found a place about a mile beyond
Mineville that seemed just the situation he
wanted. It was a small farm Iving in the nar-
row but fertile valley of Peach Creek, not far
from the ford where the roads forked for Upper
Peach Cove and Cherry Cove.

After much dillv-dallYino* and reflection the
old man who owned the land consented to sell a
small tract, but he was evidently very cautious,
fearing that this preacher, like some others he
had met, would get the better of him in the bar-
gain.

Something, however, in Delton's face and
manner gave him confidence, and the purchase
was made.

It was no sooner knovm. that the new preacher
had bought a farm than the neighbors at once
gathered about Reub and manifested their in-

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 191

terest. With some, of course, it was idle curi-
osity— ^^tliere's much of a muchness" in human
nature — but there were many who came from
honest, neighborly interest ; and Reuben ac-
cepted all the help offered, not only because he
was so anxious to get through before cold
weather set in, but because he had learned the
art of winning people by accepting kindnesses,
as well as bv doino; them.

Then, too, he wanted to show these people
that he was an industrious man, and to afford
them an object lesson of what he hoped to teach
them.

He had abundant help every day in cutting
out and clearing up what ground was needed for
the house-lot and barn-yard.

I^othing like his energy had been seen in this
neighborhood before. He had not been among
these people two weeks, and yet he had bought
his land, had made the contract for the lumber
for his house, and was at work with from five
to eight men clearing off the ground.

It was no little trial to Marthy that at first
they had to stay at iVIeason's, but she was not
only well supplied with common sense, but it
was consecrated common sense.

^^I have to stay here because there isn't any-
where else that we can stay even as comfortably

192 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

as here until the house is built ; and maybe the
Lord has something for me to do for these peo-
ple that I must do right now." And so she saw
Eeuben ride off day by day with a brave heart
and cheerful face.

She spent her first morning there at her wash
tub at the spring, much to the astonishment of
Mrs. Meason, who could not understand any
one bothering herself with work who had so
good an excuse as Mar thy had just then.

Marthv had taken out her o^m tubs from the
wagon and a jar of soft soap.

One of the girls had led the way to the spring,
a few hundred vards in the rear of the house.
As Marthv set down her tubs she said, ^^Are vou
going to wash, too?'' She asked this more be-
cause of the pressing need she had discovered
than from any indications of such a j)urpose on
the part of Liny Meason.

"Well, no; I cain't say as I ^^^,ls. We-uns
run out o' soap awhile back, an' we hain't never
thought ter make up no mo."

"Oh ! well ; I'll let vou have some of mine. I
have a whole jar full," said Marthy, eager to
get the girl's energy stirred.

"Well, I could wash some, an' I 'low it
wouldn' hurt nobody, but we-uns does things
mighty slow." Then she added slowly, as if re-

Beuhen Delton, Preacher. 193

fleeting on the possibility, "I reckon I kin git a
tub ef par hain't tuck 'em all off ter ther cider
press."

She turned away, moving with a little more
vim than ordinary under the influence of a new
impulse, and left Marthy inwardly resolving
that she would not drink cider while she was at
the Mea sons' !

Liny brought the tub in a little while, and
Marthv had the satisfaction that evening of
knowing that there were more clean, clothes in
the house than had been there for many a day !

This young girl was the brightest of the
Meason family. She w^as about sixteen years
old, and had never been to school but a part of a
year, the excuse being that she couldn't be spared
^^fur goin' en comin', w'ich tuck her nigh the
whol' day. An', arter all, w'at good were it ?"
added Mrs. Meason in a lazy tone.

Long afterwards, when Liny was redeemed
from unbelief and ignorance, she said to Marthy,
^^Miss Delton, when I come back ter ther spring
that fust mornin' you staid to our house an'
heerd you a singin' over your wash tub so happy
like an' differ'nt from us, I jest said I'm a-goin'
ter be es much like her as I kin', an' ef it's re-
ligion w'at does it, well, then that's w'at I want."

During the beautiful last days of October,

194 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

and the early days of ISTovember, while Reuben
was bnsy clearing off his land preparatory to
building, he decided, to Marthy's great delight,
that they might camp out while the weather per-
mitted on the other side of Mineville, and about
a mile from where he was building.

It was so much more convenient to his work,
and he wanted Marthy's sus^orestions, and, too,
he thought that she might become better ac-
quainted with the women of the yillage, and
begin the work of uplifting them.

The superintendent of the mines had kindly
offered to lend them a tent, and Mar thy sug-
gested that if it should be damp, they could
sleep in the wagon at night.

And so reluctantly the Measons saw them go
oif; Liny especially manifesting her distress.
She had had a glimpse into another world,
where, as she expressed it, "they wus like we-
uns, an' wusn't neither.''

"Preacher," said Marthy, as they drove off
from Measons, "there's something in that girl
that makes me think of a wild bird fastened in
a cage and struggling to be free, and I hope we
will be permitted to set her free."

In spite of all sorts of discomforts and funny
accidents, they were a happy little family during
the bright days spent in camp. Hearty and

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 195

happy-hearted, used to roughing, and perfectly
willing to "put up with things/' they really en-
joyed the life.

The people of the village were curious, and
even prying sometimes, but the Deltons bore
all with a courage and patience born of their in-
tense love for the souls of these people.

Before they had been a week in camp at the
ford Marthy invited all those who would help
her start a Mothers' Meeting to come out to the
camp at three o'clock one afternoon. She made
some tea cakes and had a pot of coffee ready, and
waited with a prayer in her heart for success in
this beginning of her work.

Among those who accepted Marthy's invita-
tion was a young woman, apparently about
twentv vears old, who was a 2:ood deal more

1/1/ / o

dressed than the others, and who carried herself
in a way that indicated her conscious superi-
ority to them.

Sbe was a handsome woman, with really beau-
tiful dark auburn hair and fine brown eyes, and
had a much better figure than the average
woman of the class to which she seemed to be-
long. Her dress was extremely gaudy. She
wore a soiled, draggled lawn skirt, with flowers
of a large pattern in gay colors ; a shirt waist
made of solid yellow cheese cloth, and a hat

woman.

196 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

quite gay with red roses and cro^^Tied with a
large bow of yellow ribbon.

The other women — there were nine alto-
gether— were most of them in plain dark dresses
and snnbonnets, or broad straw hats, which
made the contrast very striking.

As Mar thy passed from one to another shak-
ing hands and asking for names in her winsome
way, she approached the handsome young
nan.

And yours ?" she asked, as she held her hand
out.

"Baxter's my name — Miss Tim Baxter" —
w^as the reply, with a broad smile and a toss of
the head.

Marthy made a mental resolution to per-
suade jMrs. Tim Baxter that quieter costumes
were more fashionable and in better taste than
hers.

There were several children, two or three of
them being babies, so that the scene was not
lacking in animation, despite the silence of the
guests at first.

Beuben had bought some chairs the day be-
fore, and these, with the two they had in the
wagon and a box turned oyer, seated the audi-
ence under the beautiful birch tree that Marthy
called her parlor.

Reuben DeUon, Preacher, 197

She had a table bv her, which had been an-
other of their purchases of the day before, and
on it was a dainty white cloth. Her Bible lay
on it, and a hymn book, and beside them was a
pitcher filled with wild flowers.

It was a lovely afternoon. The warm sun-
light left its mellow glow on everything. The
river rippled by peacefully over the pretty red-
brown pebbles and eddied around the large
lichened rocks nearer the banks. The soft white
clouds floated above all, as God's blessings hang
above us, thoua'ht Martbv.

As she looked about her on the stolid faces
there was a conflict in her heart between pity
and despair. Every woman was provided with
a snuff-brush, and the tin snuff-boxes were be-
ing passed around apparently by way of refresh-
ments !

^'I must do something to get that blank, ani-
mal look out of these faces,'' thought Marthy,
^'but how can it be done ?" sua'ffested some evil
spirit that seemed haunting her. The promise
came quickly to mind : ^'My grace is sufficient
for thee !"

Those thoughts flashed upon her in the first
moment or two that she stood up. In another
she was explaining quite pleasantly what a
Mothers' Meeting was, and telling them of the

198 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

meetings over in Waiitauga, and of all the good
and the pleasure that had come of them.

"ISTow let lis ask God to bless these meetings,
because nnless he does thej will do ns no good.
Let us praj," she said, reverently, and to the as-
tonishment of the company, she knelt down.
Two or three followed her example, Mrs. Tim
Baxter, among others, thongh she seemed to re-
gard it as very entertaining, as she snickered
and whispered most of the time. Marthy's
prayer, simple enough for a child to understand,
was only a cry for help to live as wives and
mothers should, and to be able to make home
happy for husbands and children. Before she
had finished, the silly smile had faded from Mrs.
Baxter's face, and she said afterwards to some
one, ^^Miss Delton makes me feel cur'ons. I
never had no preacher to make me feel that-a-
way."

After singing a familiar hymn in which two
or three joined her in feeble, cracked voices,
Marthv read a few verses from the Bible, ex-
jDlaining them as she read. Then she did a very
wise thing. She told them something of her own
story. How Miss Greyson had helped her, and
how she felt that she must help others to show
her gratitude.

^^That is what has brought my husband and

Reuben DeltoUj Preacher. 199

me here, ^ot just for him to preach to you
all Sundays, but for both of us to try to help
you to come to God, and to live better and hap-
pier lives every way."

"And now/' she said, smiling, "I want you all
to eat with me. People never get real friendly
until they eat together. I will make some coffee
now," she added as she went over to where she
had built a fire. Her kettle was already on, and
in a few moments she had the coffee made.
Marthy brought from the tent her dishes of tea
cakes, and the cups and saucers, and sugar and
cream.

The faces of her guests wore an expression
that indicated both pleasure and surprise. This
was not like anvthino- thev had ever seen or
imagined before !

This first Mothers' lleeting was a complete
success. As one and another gathered courage
to speak, their comments not only amused but
gratified Marthy.

"Well, Miss Delton, this is j^li^mb fine! We
never had no sich a woman in our parts befo!
You're as good as a preacher, an' yit ye kin
cook fine, too !"

"How' dye make these yer ? I hain't never
put nothin' like this inter my mouth befo', sar-
tain !"

200 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

"Well ! well ! she's got pvo (pure) sugah in
her coffee, an' it's cler as water ! Well !"

"It's better'n' a circns," remarked Mrs. Bax-
ter in a tone that made IMarthy wonder if she
was in earnest or trying to ridicule things.

Such were some of the comments, and
Ifarthy, seizing a quiet minute, said, "l^ow, I
would like to have another meeting two weeks
from to-daj, but I want somebody else to give
us an invitation. Over in Wautauga we met
at a different house every time. Our house will
not be finished for a month, I reckon."

There was silence for a while, then, after
some whispering, one woman said, "Well, I
'low we kin have it at our house, but I don'
know how to begin."

"Oh ! never mind about that," answered
Marthv, auicklv. "I'll do all that, and if each
one will furnish a cup and saucer and spoon,
and each one bring a cup of flour, and some-
body'll furnish the lard, and somebody else sorg-
hum, I'll teach you how to make tea cakes my

wav !"

"Well ! well !" was the general exclamation,
in tones of evident satisfaction. Then, as
Marthv had learned by experience was neces-
sary, she said, "E^ow I guess we had better
break up. We don't want the men folks to fuss

Reuhen Delton, Preaclier. 201

about our not being at home to get snpper in
time.''

With hearty handshakings Marthj's first
^[others' fleeting in Peach Creek valley closed.

The size of Renben Delton's house was a mat-
ter of mnch comment to some of his friends.

^'Yon-nns inns' 'low ter take summer board-
ers, preacher," said one man when he found
that tliere were to be four rooms beside the din-
ins; room and kitchen.

"Why, no, that's not the reason. You see,
we don't believe it is good for people to live so
crowded. You can't keep healthy and clean
when you do. Then, we like to have a spare
room, where we can ask ]:>eople to sit when they
come to see us, and Avliere I can get away from
the noise my boy makes when I'm getting ready
to preach. We would rather not eat in our
kitchen if we can help it, so you see I have just
a little room to cook in, and we will eat in this
room," pointing to where the dining room was
going to be. '^'Xow, tlie next one of you that's
goins: to build, trv it for vourself. Lumber is
plentiful and cheap, and I'll help any of you.
You'll see that it makes a man feel better to have
a clean, comfortable, roomy house."

"Yer goin' ter be mighty fine w'en ye git yer
glass mnders, too."

202 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

^'Well, not so fine as so comfortable, for when
the dark days come in winter, yon can't see in-
doors nnless yoii have good light."

^^Wa-al, bnt ther ain't nothin' ter see fur,"
drawled one man not over twenty-five years of
age.

"Nothing to see for ! Why, man, the win-
ter's the time for yon and me to try to read and
know something ahont what's going on in the
world. Yon can read, can't yon ?"

"Ya-as, I kin make ont ter read some, bnt
ther ain't nothin' fnr me ter read. I hain't got
money ter spen' on books."

'^You've got it to buy tobacco and poor whis-
key. Save some of that. And, let me tell you,
I've got some books that a good woman gave to
me to lend to people who couldn't afford to buy
'em. When the bad weather sets in, come to me
and I will always give you something to read."

When the time came for Reuben's first reg-
ular Sunday preaching service, the weather was
so fine that he decided to have preaching out of
doors.

There was no church building within five
miles, and the school house in Mineville was not
onl}^ much out of repair, but entirely too small
for the crowd that he hoped would attend.

Both Marthy and Reuben realized the im-

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 203

portance of that first regular service. They
knew, not only from what they had heard since
thev came, but from what thev had knowm else-
where, of the kind of preachers and preaching
these people had been nsed to, therefore they
spent much time in prayer, asking that Reuben
might be directed as to what to preach about,
and even that the right words might be given
him.

He had had some of the neighbors to help
him with several loads of lumber with which
they arranged seats in a fine grove just on the
edge of the village. These rude benches and
the chairs brought by the village people fur-
nished seats for a good-sized crowd.

The people began to gather by nine o'clock,
and for an hour or more they continued to ar-
rive. There were many more than Reuben had
expected, and some of them were pretty wild-
looking fellows, and several appeared to be un-
der the infiuence of drink.

Just before time for the services to begin
Superintendent Laxley beckoned to Reuben,
and when he came dowm from the stand, said in
a whisper, ^^Mr. Delton, some of these fellows
are from away up in Peach Cove, and are pretty
rough cases. Did you leave anything out at
your camp that they could carry off or injure V^

204 Beiihen Delton, Preacher.

Reuben smiled. ^^Wliv, captain, I had to
leave a 2:aod many tiling's in tlie wa2:on, bnt
they were mostly packed np ; and I have left
them in God's care. I am in his seryice, and
he has covenanted to keep me and mine."

Captain Laxley's face flushed, and he said
with a gleam of scorn in his bright blue eyes,
^^All riaht, if you are satisfied. I was fi^oing to
offer to send two of my men over to guard your
things. I am like Cromwell : I believe in trust-
ing in God and keeping the powder dry — es-
pecially in keeping the powder dry." He turned
awav as he said this, and Reuben returned to
the rude platform he had fixed for the services.

After singing, which llarthv led, and a short
prayer Reuben told the people why he had come,
and what he hoped to do here; and then after
reading and expounding the Scripture, he took
for his text the words : Jesus Christ came into
the world to save sinners.

If he had been speaking only to little chil-
dren, he could not have told more simply the
story of God's love or of Christ's death on the
cross. He judged rightly that there were some
here on whose ears the story fell for the first
time, and many who had never heard the gosjDcl
really preached before.

We are all familiar with the stories of the

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 205

ignorant preachers who are to be found among
the negroes of the South, and too often are made
to laugh at rather than pity their ignorance ;
but few understand how many so-called preach-
ers scattered far and wide through the moun-
tain country are no better. Men of immoral
lives, many of them content to live without
Bibles in their homes, it cannot be surprising
that they so often fail to win the confidence of
the people, or to bring souls to Christ. For, no
matter how wicked a man may be himself, he
expects the life of the man who preaches to him
to be correct, and to add its testimony to the re-
ligion he preaches.

There was some disturbance on the edge of
the crowd ^^^lile Reuben was speaking. He
stopped a moment; then he called out, "My
friends, there is just one thing that I cannot
do; that is, preach while people are laughing
and talking. You need not come to hear me
preach ; but if you do, you must keep quiet.
This is God's work I am doing. Other people
are trying to listen. You can go away now if
you want to." He stopped speaking, and, much
to his relief, the men who had been noisy left,
and the service proceeded quietly.

The second service after dinner was chiefly
a song service, and the younger people seemed

206 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

especially to enjov it, and one after another voice
joined in with Eeuben and Martliy. After an-
nouncing that there would be preaching at this
place the next Sunday, if the weather permitted,
the services closed.

On their way home Marthy and Reuben were
ioined bv several men from the other side of
Peach Creek. Thev had e'one onlv a short dis-
tance from Mineville when Keuben was accosted
bv a drunken stranger.

^^So you are a preacher, are you ? I thought
vou was, or a doctor, bv vour dress. One is as
bad as th'other ; both deserve torment. You're
both workin' for monev.''

"Yes, stranger, that is true," replied Reuben.
"I am a preacher, and preach for money. My
denomination is not very large in this State,
but we have preached for money enough to es-
tablish a home to care for the children of such
as you — drunken parents who neglect their fam-
ilies. Have you any child you want to give to
us V *

"Thar, now, preacher. YouVe salted him
sure! He ain't srot nothin' further to sav to
you just now !" exclaimed Reuben's compan-
ions.

* True incident.

u

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 207

The man rode past tliem, then wheeling his
mnle about, turned back to town.

Reuben had won the respect and confidence
of the farmers who had heard his sharp and just
retortj and in the years of his ministry in Peach
Creek Yallev found no warmer friends than
the Little Peach Creek people.

As they parted at the ford one of them said,
'^Come up and see us, preacher, and bring yer
wife an' boy. We-uns lives po', but ther door's
always a swingin' fur sich as you-uns. I wisht
my woman had ha' come ter preachin'. AVe-uns
ain't used ter hear in' sich preachin', nur sich
sinffin' neither."

"Thank you !" said both Peuben and Marthy.
"We will come; how far do you live beyond
here ?"

"Wy, jest a little piece up yer in ther fork of
Little Peach Creek; nigh outer two miles er
thar about. Cain't vou-uns come to-morrow?"

"I'm sorry, but I don't see how we can. You
see, I'm building and want to get done before
cold weather sets in, but you may look for us
sure. And you come to see us. God willing,
we'll be in our house bv the end of next week,
and then we want to see all our friends. Good-
bye, and God bless you !"

The men crossed the ford just in sight of the

208 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

camp, and as tliey rode along tliey talked of
Renben and of the preaching and the singing.

"Well," said the older one, "we-uns hain't
never had no sich preachin' in these parts be-
fo' ! That ere feller's jes' plumb grand. He's
differ'nt, that's it !"

"Well, thar you're ria'ht now. You hit ther
nail plumb on ther head then, Mac, sartain !
Ef a man ain't differ'nt hisself, an' a-lookin'
like he knowd what he were a-talkin' 'bout, hit
ain't no use fur him ter git up an' tell folks
how they oughter live. Hopper, he says as how
Delton's jes' tunned in an' been a-workin' like
a boss cleanin' up an' a raisin' his house."

They -rode on, talking, perhaps, less of Reu-
ben's sermon than he could have wished, but
they had a new proof of the power of upright
living — an object lesson much needed in that
reo-ion.

CHAPTER IV.

Some Sad Sights.

" A man he seems of cheerful yesterdays,
And bright to-morrows."

THERE is no characteristic that so qualifies
a man or a woman for the work of the
Home Mission field — always, of course, ex-
cepting a constraining love for the Master — as
a spirit of dauntless cheerfulness.

This trait both Reuben and Marthy Delton
possessed in a very marked degree. And well
it was for them that they did.

When the severe winter weather set in, as it
did about the last of xs'ovember, they were in
their new home. And very thankful they were
to be able to say so, though there was yet work
to be done on the interior ; their bed rooms and
kitchen, or stove room, were finished.

Used as they had been to living on the turn-
pike for the four years of their married life,
this seemed a very lonely place. It w^as on the
road leading to Upper Peach Creek Cove, but
few people travelled that road in winter. It
was almost in sight of Peach Creek Eord, where

210 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

the trees were bare, but even that road was com-
paratively little travelled.

Thev had had company enough while the
honse was in process of bnilding, and for a while
after thev moved in. Both men and women had
come to inspect the home, and thev did so tlior-
onffhlv.

Marthy had more than once fonnd men at
her cupboard or stove in the kitchen when she
came in from the spring, but it proved that they
were there for no more harmful purpose than
"Jest a lookin' at all vou-uns is ffot."

But when the rainy sj^ell began and days
passed without any visitors, Marthy was glad
to be verv busv.

The first day that he could spare after they
were reallv settled in the manse, Reuben had
gone to Upper Peach Cove ; and he had gone un-
der protest from the better class of people in
Mineville.

When Captain Laxley had heard that he was
going he said, "He'd better make his will, and
take his gun along, too," but Reuben only smiled
and said to him, "I never carry a gun for pro-
tection, captain. I dare not.''

When he did start off he looked much more
like a mountain hunter than a preacher, so far
as costume was concerned, for his heavy cloth-

Reuhen Delton, Preacher. 211

ing was of home-made jeans. He wore his stout
boots outside liis trousers, and his wool cap and
his muffler were both Marthy's work.

When he reached home in the afternoon
Marthy, who welcomed him at the door, missed
his merry whistle, and was struck with the look
of sadness that was not dispelled even by the
smile with which he always greeted her and
Greyson.

He passed into the kitchen, where there was
warmth and comfort and cleanliness, and the
appetizing odors of the early supper Marthy al-
ways had ready for him after one of his tramps.

When he sat down to remove his heavy boots,
she came near, and taking off his cap and
muffler, stooped and kissed his brow.

^Are you very tired, preacher V

"Oh ! it is not that, Marthy, but the sights I
have seen to-day. Why, we don't know any-
thing of the misery and squalor of some of the
mountain people.

^^Some of the homes I found are nothing but
shanties. One room each, in wdiich whole fam-
ilies eat and sleep and live like animals ! ex-
cepting that animals are not profane. One
woman cursed the children before me again and
again, apparently just to let me see that she
could. Most of them were in rags, and this in

212 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

Decembei ! O Marthy ! dear, Avho hath made
us to differ ? What can we render to the Lord
for all his benefits to ns ? Two of the men I saw
had been doAvn to my first preaching service,
and they treated me better than others. One
man said he didn't know who I was, and when
I told him I was Preacher Delton he said then
he had no use for me. Preachers were all alike ;
thev cheated and lied all week, and then talked
religion on Sundays. I tried to get him to let
me read a few words from the Bible, but he
cursed me and told me he would shoot me if I
didn't begone !"

Marthy shuddered.
^ Were you frightened, preacher ?''
^^^N'o ; I was too sorry for him to think of be-
ing in danger, and, you know, I was about my
Father's business, and so was safe.'

"At one house they were more friendly.
They were eating dinner when I arrived and
would have me go in."

Reuben drew up his shoulders, and his face
expressed the deepest disgust.

"There was some dirty-looking com bread on
a broken, greasy dish," he continued. "In a
cracked bowl there was some boiled bacon. As
far as I could see, there were no table knives
and forks, and but one spoon. The father and

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 213

two older boys were using their pocket knives ;
the rest of the family ate with their hands. I
told them what was perfectly true, that I was
not hungry. Yon know, I carried some biscuits
in my pocket. I tried to talk to the children.
N^one of them had ever been to school, nor had
any but the two older boys ever been to Mine-
ville, only six or seven miles away ! These chil-
dren did not know who made them, or who
Jesus Christ was. Indeed, even one of the
women asked ^ef that wus the man Tib McCoy
heerd about do^\Ti at preachin' V "

^^Preacher, it is all terrible," said Marthy,
^^but w^e must not take it so hard as to be impa-
tient about bettering their lives, but just give
ourselves more wholly to the work from this
time on. We can't hope to do much actual work
among them in the winter, but we can do a lot
of praying for them. Don't you think so?"

Marthy was at the stove making the coffee
w^hile she was talking, and Reuben came and
stood by her, then he kissed her and said by
way of reply, ^^Thank God for my wife !"

That evening Reuben w^rote a long letter to
Dan Ruger, not the first since he had come to
Peach Creek Valley.

He had only heard once from Puger, for
waiting was a slow process, with him, as he de-

214: Reuben Delton, Preacher,

clared in his letter, but he was ^^practicing every
day/' he said.

After little Greyson was asleep, his mother
set herself to the pleasant work of writing to
Miss Greyson, and as her letter is characteris-
tic and contains her impressions of her new
home, we will give it. It also gives an insight
into the plans and purposes of the young mis-
sionaries.

Peach Valley ]\Iaxse, December — , 18 — .

^'My Dear Best FraEXD :

^^If it has seemed a long time since I wrote
you, there have been two reasons that I hope
you will think good, l^irst, of course, I have
been busy, and have done a little of almost every
kind of work, excepting preaching and shing-
ling ! Second, I thought by waiting I would
have more to tell.

^^Well, we are in our new home at last, and
I would never have appreciated it properly if
I had not had to spend two Aveeks at Meason's
Cross Roads and ten days camping out. But
the camping was really pleasant, for, you know,
we had a good tent and the wagon, and the
weather was beautiful.

Greyson enjoyed it as much as we did, and
generally woke up saying, '^Mummie, dis our
funnv houshe, ain't it V

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 215

^'\Ye moved liere the day before Thanksgiv-
ing Dav, and lieub asked some of the friends
tliat had been so kind to ns to come to a Thanks-
giving service. We had prayers and sang some
hvmns, and then I handed aronnd coffee and
molasses cake. Reub didn't want me to have
anytliing more for fear the people might think
we were pntting on airs ! But they seamed to
enjoy it. These people are all friendly and hos-
pitable, and they like us to be the same.

^'Oh ! my dear friend, there is a great work to
do here, and when Reub comes in and tells me
what he sees up in the coves, I feel reconciled
to leaving our dear home in Wautauga.

^^Reub has had two preaching services out
doors, and there were large crowds present.
Since the weather has been cold, we feel the need
of a comfortable building, and are praying now
that God will put it into the hearts of some of
his people with means to help us. Just think !
lumber is so plentiful a few hundred dollars
would build a church and a schoolhouse too.
We need that as well as a church. There is a
school building near the village, but it is so
small there is not room for more than half the
people that come, and the stove smokes, and
the glass is broken out of all the windows but
one.

216 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

"I have had two Mothers' Meetings, and they
s&emed to be very much enjoyed. I want to have
one here next week if the weather suits. I think
it would do them good to see my stove room
and all the little conveniences that my good hus-
band has fixed for me. Keub said I had better
invite the husbands too.

"I have not told you yet how the house looks.
It is built of logs, just as Mountain Manse was,
and ceiled inside. We have four rooms besides
the stove room and the attic, which is unfin-
ished yet. There is a porch in front, and a
broad porch at the stove room, where my wood
is piled ready for use. The windows are all
glazed, and have board shutters too. It is more
convenient in some respects than Mountain
Manse, but that is mv first love, and no other
can take its place, and, oh ! dear Miss Greyson,
how we miss the beautiful view. Sometimes I
think I understand how the Swiss could die of
homesickness. But do not think I am not happy
or willing to stay. Reub and I both feel satis-
fied that God called us here, and are glad to do
his will, but I 'am Marthy still, you know, and
so I often wonder whv I could not have served
him and lived for him there !

"We have had several letters from ladies who
want to come here to teach, but so far only two

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 217

seemed at all suitable. Reub thinks it very im-
portant to have the right kind of woman, and
have her right away. You see, if the teacher
comes by April, she will get the benefit of the
Public School Fund for three months.

^What we need is an earnest Christian woman
who comes to do the Master's work not for the
money or for the fun of the thing.

^'^One young lady wrote to know if many sum-
mer boarders come here, and if they dressed
much !

^'It seemed a very funny question, and we
laughed heartily, for to both of us it seems as
far away from the resorts of summer boarders
as the Klondyke ! You know how we feel about
this work being in the hands of educated and
consecrated mountain men and women. ^ot
that others are not earnest and capable, but
these mountain people, even the dullest of them,
know what they call the '^differ'nce' between
those who were raised in the mountains and
those from do^^m below, and it seems that we can
get nearer to them.

"Reub tries every way to keep up what he
calls ^the look of a mountain man.' He never
wears anything but jeans and heavy brogans,
and he doesn't want me to wear anything but
calico dresses, excepting, of course, in the win-

218 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

ter, when, for comfort's sake, I put on woolen;
but my best dress now is a linsev — ves, and it
looks right nicely, too !

^'AYe believe, more than ever, that if we take
the same materials thev have, and make our-
selves and our home comfortable with them, Ave
can do more good and help them better. Don't
jon think so ?

^^A man who helped to raise the house came
in the other day and said to Reub, ^I'm a-goin'
ter build another room to my house, mebby two,
for it do seem like you-uns live more respecter-
ble like than we-uns, an' mebbj that's ther rea-

son.'

^^I did want to sav : and mavbe if vou would
make some soaj) and use it on yourselves and
your clothes, you would certainly feel more ^re-
specterble like.'

"I wrote you about the young girl Liny
^^feason ? Well, her mother is going to let her
stay with me to help me this winter — that is
what they say — but I hope to help her. I want
to teach her to sew and to cook, too, as well as
how to read. And Keub will feel so much
better satisfied when he s'oes off to stav all
day.

^^We have had an interesting letter from Dan
Euger lately. You would be surprised to see

Beuhen Delton, Preacher. 219

how lie is improving in spelling and grammar
too. Instead of the terrible restlessness he had
to suffer from at first, he savs he don't mind it so
much now. He reads and writes every day, and
tries to memorize some from the Bible. He
says his best friend there is the jailer's little
daughter, who comes to see him every day, talk-
ing to him through the grating.

^^^fr. Conway, the preacher at Evergreen,
wrote to Reub that he never saw a man who
gave better evidence of being a changed man.

"Somebody heard Reub telling about him,
and said, ^Hem ! just wait till he gets out ! It's
easy enough for him to be good when he hasn't
any temptations.' Reuben never answered him,
for, as he said to me afterwards, 'People who
have never known how God helps you, nor how
many kinds of temptations beset a Christian,
don't understand what we sav anv more than I
would understand German.'

"He is to be tried at the spring temi of Wau-
tauga Court, and Reub has promised to go over,
even if he isn't called as a witness.

"Reub has great hopes of the governor par-
donins: him, and he wrote to Ruffer and told him
so, and he answered, 'Well, preacher, if God sets
me free from this jail, I'll make a bee line fur
you, and vou must let me work for vou and with

220 Beuhen Delton, Preacher.

you the rest of inj life.' Wasn't that right
touching ? He surely is grateful to Reub.

^^Good-bye. It's late and Reub wants break-
fast earlier than usual to-morrow, but I must
thank you for the papers and magazines. We
read together every night after baby is asleep.
Thank you for the pictures too. Get the chil-
dren interested in collecting all sorts of Bible
pictures. We take them up to the cove people.
At Christmas we want to have a tree for all the
children in the neighborhood.

^^Write to us soon. ^N^obodv but God knows
how your letters cheer and strengthen us. Reub
sends much love."

"Faithfully yours,

"JMarthy Lester Delton."

As the long dreary winter wore to an end,
Marthy was stout and brave enough to have
gone on manj^ a trip with Reuben, but even
after Liny ^leason came she did not feel that
both of them ought to be absent from little Grey-
son at once.

Liny Meason proved a bright scholar in the
kitchen, as well as at her books, and Marthy's
love for Miss Grevson had not been more wor-
shipful than Avas hers for Marthy. She was will-
ing to learn to cook and to sew just because she

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 221

wanted to be like Marthy, and for tlie same rea-
son she wanted to study the Bible and to be a
Christian.

It was a source of grief to Marthy that Liny
had no higher motive than this, but Reuben eon-
soled her by reminding her that some people
naturally accept the truth more slowly than
others.

The man who at first only saw men as trees
walking ended by seeing them as they were.

"It is another of those lessons in patience that
God has been setting us lately, little woman.
Let us try to learn them perfectly."

CHAP TEE V.

Preacher Delton iist a ITew Roee.

TI^ME flies swiftly even away from the biis^'
liaiints of men when one leads a busy life,
and it seemed to Reuben and ]\Iartliy Delton
that it had never flown so fast as during the

first six months of their stav at Peach Valley

ii I-

Manse.

It was not onlv that there was so much to do,
but so much to discover.

The doing seemed at first only for themselves,
for it consisted chieflv in making their new home
comfortable and neat, but these young people
were not selfish in this effort.

It seemed to those who watched and studied
them as did Miss Grevson and some of their fel-
low-workers as if they never lost sight of the
fact that they were to witness by their lives and
homes to the uplifting and beautifying power
of religion.

If they could, in a simple way and out «if the
material at hand, make their home more com-
fortable 01 more attractive, then at once it be-

Reuben Delton, Preacher, 223

came the Master's work for tliem as an object
lesson to many who had never had an idea of
what home was intended to be.

But besides this doing, as we have said, there
was the discovering of people to be helped, and
of ways of helping them. It would have been
easy enough, with the assistance of outside
friends who had abundant means, to have gone
around like good fairies, and have dropped com-
forts d.r\.(l attractions in the wretched I.jvlIs
where generations of miserable lives had been
lived, but to discover the points of contact, and
to show t]:8 sympathy that welled up in theif
Jjearts; to preach the gospel of hope and cheer
to people Avho had yet to learn the meaning of
tliose Avords was a nobler work and a truer test
of their interest.

The spring, though late, had been wonder-
fullv beautiful.

'Hie valley of Peach Cove, shut in on eYQvy
side bv the mountains, furnished a veritable hot-
bed for lature, and there was such a wealth of
lovely r.zalias of every shade from orange to
pure white, and such myriads of kalmias, as well
as acres of the smaller flowers that love the
sunnv meadow lands that the fields bordering
the creek seemed like some beautiful piece of
tapestry spread out in the spring sunlight.

224 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

Then ^vhen tlie rhododendrons came on, glori-
fvinG" the dark monntain sides, and occasionallv
adding their delicate color to the pale greens
along the creek, Marthy's heart was full of joy,
and she cried ont to Renben, as thev came in
from a round of visits one afternoon in May,
^^O preacher ! this is almost as good as Wau-
tauga. But can't you find me one place where I
can see far off ? Those pale blue mountains al-
ways made me feel nearer to heaven."

Late in March the teacher. Miss Grace Fields,
arrived, and as it was necessary for her to be
near the schoolhouse, she boarded in Mineville.

The Deltons were sorry for her sake, and for
Marthy too, that she could not have made her
home with them, but if she was to be influential
in the families as well as with her scholars, it
was all important that she should live among
them.

Marthy called on her promptly and greeted
her cordially. She also gave her a standing in-
vitation to spend every other Friday night at
the manse. An invitation which Miss Fields
accepted rather as if she must than because she
was really pleased to go.

"She's not a mountain woman. Reub, she
don't know how to treat us any more than the
people in the village, and I'm afraid it makes

Eeuhen Delton, Preacher. 225

her feel very lonely; and tliat will make her
^act differ'nt/ as these people say. She's ^awfnl
shnt-montherl,' as Mr. Moonev would sav. I
wish we conld draw her out some way. She
looks so dazed, like she didn't know where she
was, and wasn't quite awake."

Reuben laughed. ^'Yes, she's ^shut-mouthed',
hut we are strangers to her, and, you know, if
slie feels different from the rest of us, it is very
well she is silent, because nothing riles those peo-
ple more than for somebody to come along and
bco'in to tell 'em about how thev had thin2;s at
home. It is 'most as bad as for a man to be2:in
telling how his mother always does, eh, little

woman

9V

I don't pretend to know about that sort of
thing. I am a highly-favored woman, whose
husband always likes her way the best," said
^Farthy, with a pretty little flirt of her head and
a beaming smile.

Miss Fields was really studying Reuben and
^tarthv with much interest. She watched them
closelv when thev talked, and wondered at the
very correct English they spoke compared with
others around her.

She seemed timid about visiting them at first,
but when two or three successive Fridavs, either
Reuben or Marthv had driven in for her, she

226 Beuhen Delton, Preacher,

gave herself up to their cordiality, and, while
her reserve continued, it had more to do with
her past life than her present opinions.

^^Such a queer mixture of simplicity of dress
and living, with refinement of manner and culti-
vation of mind, I have never seem before!
Such deliciously prepared and perfectly cooked
food served in such plain ware. Such coarse
vet daintilv clean table cloths. Yet everything

1/1/ .7 l-J

tasting as well as if served on Sevres China to
a woman who lives as I have to from dav to
dav." So wrote Miss Fields to a friend after
one of her visits to Valley Manse.

One afternoon early in July, while Reuben
was off in Crab Tree Cove, Marthy got Grey-
son readv and drove over to Mineville for Miss
Fields. She took Liny Meason that far on her
wav home, as her mother had sent her word she
must come for a day or two.

lany was beginning to show a decided re^
luctance to go back home, and this was a matter
of concern to Marthy.

"Liny," she said, "when I first saw how dif-
ferent my home was from the school home at
Skyland, right then, though I was a child, I
made up my mind I was going to make it nice
and pretty if I could, but I wouldn't have done
it if I had stayed away. It makes me happy

u

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 227

whenever I think about it now. God helped me,
and he will help you.''

It was a lovely afternoon^ with the warm sun-
light and the cool breeze that nearly always
characterize the mountain summers.

Miss Fields was ready when Marthy drove up,
and as it was still early, she proposed that they
should drive out on Crab Tree Cove road.

Maybe we will meet my husband,'' she said.
He has been up in the cove all day."

Anywhere ! anywhere ! where I can see only
trees and sky and water !" exclaimed Miss
Fields as she stepped into the buggy and took
little Greyson on her lap.

"Have things been running smoothly at school
this week ?" asked Marthy, anxious to show her
interest in her companion's work.

"Oh ! don't ask me. Help me to forget the
school if I can for the next two days !"

Marthy might have been willing to have
granted the re<]uest if she had not turned just
then and seen the tears in Miss Fields' eyes and
the look of disgust in her face.

"Something has been worrying you," she re-
plied quickly ; "and, Miss Fields, you must tell
me what it is. You must let my husband and
myself sympathize with you, and help you when
wo can. We regard it as a part of our work here

228 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

to support yoii in your capacity as teacher, and
to do all we can to make you comfortable and
happy/'

The flood gates were opened now, and the
tears that had been so long pent up flowed freely.
After a few moments she wiped her eyes, and
said, ^^Mrs. Delton, I am reaping the reward of
mv own wrono'-doinffs. Since I have come here

t/ o o

and have seen the unselfish work that Mr. Del-
ton and you are doing, I see what a sham I have
been. I am not really qualified to teach any-
where, especially here, where one teaches by life
as well by word of mouth. I only came to get
as far awav from home and the world I had lived
in as I could. I thought that anybody could
teach a moimtain school. It is a great mistake,
and the scholars found it out sooner than I did.
Do you know who Billy Whitley is ?" she
added.

^^I know the family, and think I know him by
sight. He is nearly grown, isn't he ?"

"Yes, and he is the hardest boy in the school
to manage. Tie knows that I cannot whip him,
and when I set him a task for punishment, he
simply looks me in the face and says, ^I'll not
do it.' To-day he didn't know a single lesson,
and I told him to stav in after school, but he
had made other plans, and he just broke into a

Beuben Delton, Preacher. 229

rude laugii and said, 'I'm a-goin' a-fishin' this
evenin', an' I'd like ter see any little woman
like Yon keep me from it !' i^Tow, what conld I
do ? I thonght of sending np town for some-
body to whip him, hnt do yon tliink I conld get
a hoy or girl to go 1 ^ot one ! They're, every
one, afraid of him, and I had to see him walk
off before school was ont and never say a
word."

Marthy's eyes flashed, thongh she felt that
perhaps Miss Fields had begnn wrong, bnt here
was an ontrageons act of disobedience and de-
fiance, and it had to be stopped.

'Mnst wait till my hnsband hears of it," she
said, warmly. '^I am hoping to see him com-
ing at every tnrn in the road."

She had hardly finished speaking before the
sonnd of a merry whistle greeted their ears.

''There he is !" exclaimed Marthy, laughing.
"He may not have rings on his fingers and bells
on his toes, bnt he surelv has music wherever he
goes !"

"Heyo, f ardie ! See me ?" cried out little
Greyson, as Reuben approached, mounted on
Jobo, the pretty little mule.

''Well! this is nice! I didn't know I was
to have an escort home. I feel like a conquer-
ing hero," Reuben said, lifting his hat to Miss

230 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

Fields and coming near enough to tlie buggy to
lift his baby from her lap to a seat in front of
him.

It was not long before Mar thy had told him
the story of Billy Whitley's insolence.

"Don't worry^ Miss Fields," he said quietly,
"I'll come in on Mondav and settle that matter."
Then he changed the subject and began to tell
her the story of Cripple Benny.

"Away up in the wildest part of Crab Tree
Cove there is a miserable cabin occupied by a
family of nine bv the name of McCune. About
three months ago I found the place. I say I
found it, but I believe God led me there. When
I stopped at the door, the mother come out with
a child about a year old in her arms, and after
her trooped six others of various sizes.

" ^Good evening !' I said.

" ^Evenin' '

" ^You have a house full of children,' I said.
'How many are there V

" 'Eight. Jim, he's off wid his par. Ther's
another, but he ain't got no sense.'

"I asked to see him. She hesitated a min-
ute, then said in a perfectly indifferent tone,
'Thar he is.' She pointed to a wretched bed in
the corner of the room, and there lay a pale,
emaciated boy whose age it was impossible to

ii

Reuben Delton, Preacher, 231

determine. His large eves rested on me with
evident surprise. I spoke to liim.

" ^He ain't got no sense ; he cain't talk.' said
the mother J who was moving ahont the room.

'' ^Tow old is he V
'He's nigh on ter eighteen.'
^Oh !' I said, 'poor fellow !' My heart cried
ont to God for the poor boy. I took his wasted
hand and asked what his name was.

" ^Benny, his par calls him, hut/ she added
with a brutal laugh, ^ 'tain't no use ter call him
nothin' ; he ain't got no sense.'

^^\11 the while those large patient eyes fol-
lowed me, filled with all the pathos for me that
one often sees in the eyes of a dumb animal.

" ^Benny,' I said gently, 'I am Preacher Del-
ton. I am coming to see you again.' He moved
his lips and evidently wanted to speak, but ut-
tered no sound.

" ^ Do say ! be you ther new preacher down
ter Mineville ? Well, I've heerd tell o' you-uns,
an' they do say you cain't mek a hoss trade, nur
don' tech a drap o' w'iskey no time.'

^^The woman's face had brightened consider-
ablv, but it still wore an almost animal look of
hardness. She turned from speaking to me and
cuffed one of the children about his face. I
could not see what for, unless it was her way of

232 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

expressing lier contempt for a preacher who
conldn't make a good horse trade and never
drank !

"All the time I kept my eyes on that face on
the dirty bed. The boy's eyes were fixed on me.
I patted his hand, and at first he was startled,
but after he fonnd that it meant only friendli-
ness, he seemed to like it. I cannot tell yon
Avhat prompted me to take ont my knife and
begin to whittle a chip that I j)icked np from the
floor. Benny's eyes followed my movements in-
tently. Then I pnt my knife in one of his
hands and the chip in the other. The effect was
startling. He made an effort to smile. Of
course, he had no control over his hand, but
when he dropped the knife I gave it back to
him, and he took it and tried again. Turning
round, I said in a positive voice, ^Benny has
sense, and you must never tell me or anyone
else again that he has not. I believe I can teach
him to cut so as to amuse himself, Mrs. Mc-
Cune. What would you be if for nearly eigh-
teen years people had said you had no sense, and
had treated you so ? Do you know God will
bring you to judgment for treating your child
this way V She seemed frightened, and lost the
defiant look she had worn. I asked her if she
had a Bible. She actually didn't know what I

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 233

meant at first. Then she asked in a sullen
tone, '^0, ef ye mean one o' them books ther
preacher reads.'

" ^Can yon read V ^]^o.' ^Can yonr husband
read V ^jSTo.' ^Have any of your children been
to school?' ^N'o.'

^^I drew my Bible from my pocket, and read
of how the father brou^iit his demoniac boy to
Jesus to cure. She Vv^as making an effort to
clean up some of the dirt that lay in heaps about
the room, but stopped a moment, and asked,
'Whar is he V I tried to make the story of the
Christ plain to this poor benighted mind, and
then I knelt down by the boy and prayed. I
do not remember in my life before to have
prayed for another as I prayed for him — for all
of them. That was the first of many visits. I
go there of tener than to any other home, for the
need is greater, and now, look here. Miss
Fields !"

Reuben held up a rudely-carved knife of rho-
dodendron root; even the roughness of the
handle had been imitated.

"This is Benny McCune's work. But that is
not the best news I have to tell. He has learned
to read, yes, and learned in three months ! And
his delight is something that it is worth half a
lifetime to witness. I took him some pictures

234: Reuben Delton, Preacher.

to-day, and some sand paper, and he just lay and
cried for joy over the latter. And I do believe
that the change in the boy has resulted in the
conversion of the mother; certainly she is not
the savage creatnre that I first met." ^

While Kenben had been telling this interest-
ing story, they had driven by a short route to the
manse.

Miss Fields entered that simple log-cabin
home with a feeling of reverence which, as she
wrote a friend, was deeper than any she had
ever experienced beneath the fretted vault of
anv citv church. "For it is the centre of an in-
fluence so holy and so powerful that it will never
be fully estimated this side of eternity. I have
only begmn to see the possibilities in life since
I began to know these people.''

Before we pass to the more eventful scenes
of this summer, we must tell how Reuben dealt
with Miss Fields' obstreperous pupil, Billy
Whitley.

Having first charged her not to mention to
anv one that she had told him of her trouble, I

or that anv one was comino; to settle it for her,

ft/ O ■'J

he went into Mineville on Monday, and, pro- ♦

viding himself with a stout horsewhip, went over

to the schoolhouse at dinner recess. The boys. v

^ This incident is founded on fact.

Beuben Delton, Preacher. 235

were playing ball as Reuben drew near, and he
called to tliem in liis usual cordial manner.

Billy Whitley did not speak, but stopped
playing, and seemed somewhat surprised to see
the preacher. He had had the audacity to come
back to school, though he had not prepared a
lesson, because he wanted to play ball, baseball
beins; his favorite amusement.

Keuben saw his opportunity, and quickened
his step. His self-control was complete, and he
was talking to the boys as he approached. Sud-
denly, seizing Whitley by his shirt collar, he
raised his whip, his eyes fairly blazing with in-
di'o'nation.

^'You big coward ! You comtemptible bully !
You don't know how to treat a lady, but I'll
show you !"

He laid on the whip across the boy's shoul-
ders and hips, and Billy Whitley was too dimnb-
founded to do anything but utter the most
frightful howls.

a

Miss Fields, attracted by these unusual
sounds, came to the door in time to see him turn
on her gallant defender and try to throw him.
But Billy Whitley had mistaken his man.
Reuben was prepared for his antagonist. His
splendid physique, his abiding self-control, gave
him the advantage, though Billy was as tall as

236 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

he was. He laid the bay on the ground as easily
as he would have laid a boy of ten, and there he
whipped him again. Then, raising him by his
suspenders, he pushed him forward to the school-
room door, and said, ^'E^ow, sir, you beg Miss
Fields' pardon, and then get your books and go
home with me."

Billy ^Miitley, thoroughly cowed, sobbed out,
^^I beg — you're — pardon," with his big fists in
his eyes like a child of ten.

"jSTow gather up your books," said Reuben,
quietly. He concluded that the wisest thing he
could do was to accompany the boy home, and to
make the necessary explanations to his father.

The deep spots of color on the cheeks of Miss
Fields showed her excitement, and the light that
shone in her eyes testified her gratitude and ad-
miration.

^'^ow, boys and girls," said Eeuben, as he
turned towards the scholars who had gathered
outside, ^Vou see that you must obey your
teacher. !Nobodv but a coward ever takes ad-
vantage of a person he knows can't whip him."
He raised his hat and said good morning to
Miss Fields.

Billy Whitley did not fancy the idea of go-
ing off in company with the man who had just
conquered him, and started to run as soon as

Reuhe7i Deltoii, Preacher. 237

his feet touched the ground, but Reuben Delton
had other plans, and with a few strides was up
with him.

"TTold on, Billy !" he said in a firm but
friendly tone ; ^^I am going with you." He laid
his hand on Billy's arm. The boy turned a
frightened face to him, and said, "Preacher,
don't you go home. I'm a-goin' ter do better.
Don't yer go; ef par sees you, he'll lay on ter
me, sartain, an' he kin beat you even fur whopin
all holler !"

His earnestness was so ludicrous that Reuben's
gravity was sorely tried, but he had no wish to
break the boy's spirit entirely.

'^^I'd rather go, Billy. I want your father to
understand just how I came to whip you. I'll
not let him hurt you. You see, if you take
time to think about it, you did a low-do^^^l, mean
thing when you defied a woman that couldn't
whip you. The school was going to suffer for
it. The thing had to stop, and there wasn't any-
body that could do it as well as I could."

The boy hung his head and walked quietly
by Reuben's side. His father had a blacksmith's
shop on the other side of toA^m, and as they
turned into the one village street, Billy began to
feel more and more uncomfortable. Reuben
talked with him to put him at ease; talked of
fishing and farm work, and though everybody

238

Reuben Delton, Preacher.

they met turned and looked at this rather ill-
sorted couple, nobody ventured to ask what it
meant, and Billy assumed a more swaggering
air as he neared the one store.

Somebody called out, ^Treacher, I wisht
you'd stop jest a minute,'' but Reuben never
halted, only, looking over his shoulder, said with
a smile, ^^I'll be back in a few minutes. I have
to see Whitlev on a little business."

In a few words he explained to the boy's
father what he had done and why, and added,
^^Billy understands why I whipped him. He
has apologized, and he has to behave or stay
away from school."

^^He got w'at he deserved, an' I'm glad of it,"
said Whitley, ^Vho was a sensible man, but had
a pretty high temper, as Billy knew. But
Reuben Delton's quiet manner soothed that,
and when he left them there was planted in the
heart of Billy Whitley the germ of an un-
bounded admiration for the man who had just
given him a thrashing. And as the story spread,
for, of course, it did spread, Reuben won more
and more the respect of the community.

If it is true that ^^all the world loves a lover,"
it is equally true that all the world admires a
man of physical courage. Probably because in
this case the results are seen, whereas those of
moral courage are knoT\Ti only to God !

%

f

^

CHAPTEK VI.

The Deltois^s as Psychological Studies.

O^E of the discouragements that Peiiben
Delton had to fight in his work in Peach
Creek Vallej was the infatuation that mica
mining possessed for some of the better class of
farmers, especially the younger men.

A few years before some outside parties had
leased the mica interests on two or three farms,
and it was these men who employed Laxley and
Daring as superintendents. But many of the
young farmers now were digging for themselves,
presenting often to those who looked on the
same melancholy spectacle that the gambler
does.

They were trying to get sometTiing for noth-
ing, and in these efforts, oftener vain than not,
time that ought to have been spent in putting in
their crops was used in searching for mica.

Every now and then some one would dig into
a rich place, getting out maybe thirty or forty
dollars' worth of mica in a few hours, and then
the whole neighborhood would be thrown into
such a craze for mica that in the demoralization

240 Reuhen Delton, Preacher.

tliat follows families were often reduced to suf-
fering.

Many were the hours that Reuhen Delton
studied the prohlem of how to hreak up this de-
moralizing state of things; and many were the
times that he and Marthj prayed over it.

He recognized perfectly well that mica min-
ing in itself might be as legitimate as any other
business, and vet there were attendant circum- l

stances that made it wonderfully like gam- i.

bling. I

A man would spend days digging in a fever- |

ish restlessness that unfitted him for anything
else without once striking a mica vein, and all
because somebody at some time had dug up a
little fortune in a few hours !

Eeuben had made most careful inquiries from
reliable parties, and had found that almost every
mountain man that had followed mica digging
was a poorer man than if he had worked his
farm, and the saddest part of it was that no-
body ever wanted to stop. They were always
hoping that the next time they would find the
mica.

The farm lands in the valley were fine, the
corn crops often magnificent. Up in the coves
comfortable incomes were hid in the possibilities
of the fruit crops, especially peaches, and yet

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 241

the sillj haste to get rich, on the part of some,
and the laziness, on the part of others, was actu-
ally keeping back God's blessing from field and
cove !

One night Reuben said to Marthy, ^^Little
woman, I believe the best thing I can do to stop
the mica digging is to show these people what
can be done with the lands by faithful, patient
labor. I am going to do my level best on my
farm this year, and I'm going to try a peach
orchard over in that sheltered field bevond the
bam."

"I believe you are right, preacher. It is just
as much the Master's work to help them do jus-
tice to their families and live industrious lives
as it is to j)i'each and pray. And I want to
show the women up in the cove how they can
work."

During the month of xiugnist Valley Manse
presented a busy scene. The fruit season had
been unusually plentiful, and Marthy, at the
suggestion of Miss Greyson, had been putting
up some of the magnificent Indian peaches from
Peach Cove.

Miss Greyson thought that the fiTiit was so
fine that if it was carefully put up. there might
be found a market for it. Marthv, who was al-
ways on a look-out for some way to make money

242 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

for the churcli thej were going to build, had her
enthusiasm fired at once.

Reuben smiled at her eagerness, but too good-
naturedlv to dishearten her.

€,■■

"The chief good that I see from you doing
this, Marthv, is that it will be a lesson to the
cove people who let bushels of splendid peaches
rot every season because tliej do not know what
to do with them. If you can onlv arouse their
interest and ambition about anvthino; you will
have done a 2:reat work, even if you don't fill
your church coffer.''

Occasionally the quiet of the sleepy little ham-
let was broken by the arrival of a mica buyer,
maybe several of them ; and about the middle of
the month Eeuben received a letter from his
friend Lesley Conway, written at the request of
a party that was in search of new fishing resorts.
Could he recommend any stream over his way ?
Wliat route was best, and so on.

Reuben, who was always on the alert for pos-
sible friends for his work, was glad to reply by
the return mail, giving information and telling
in glowing terms of the fine trout to be found in
Little Peach Creek.

"But you will find no ^inns', nor ^tourists'
hotels.' Advise them to bring their tents and
cooks, and to enjoy the delights of camp life.

Reuben Delton, Preaclier. 243

There can be no finer climate tlian this, and we
are snre they will be rewarded for coming."

After the letter w^as posted, the matter passed
ont of their minds. There was a good deal of
sickness np in Peach Cove. Marthy had spent
parts of several days going around in Reuben's
place with one of her neighbors cleaning up
and bathing in homes where such things were
almost unknown, teaching mothers how to cook
palatable food for the sick, and trying at the
same timv. to speak a word for the Master, and
meeting everywhere with hearty greetings from
people who had learned to look on both Keuben
and herself as little lower than angels.

Late one afternoon in the first week of Sep-
tember, Marthy w^as resting after a day's w^ork
of cleaning up, prej)aratory to Miss Fields' usual
fortniHitlv visit.

She had brought a rocker to the porch, and
sat there reading, making, all unconsciously, a
very attractive picture amid her flowers. She
was still the bri2:ht-eved, rosv-cheeked, trim
Marthy of her early married life, for these are
qualities that grow with the growth of happi-
ness and become an essential part of a true
woman's being.

In her hands Marthy had a magazine, which
she was reading so intently that she did not

244 Ueuhen Delion, Preacher.

hear the approacli of any one until the lifting ^

of the gate latch caught her ear. ^^

A stranger tonched his hat politely. ':

"Is this Preacher Delton's ?" he asked^ with
a pleasant smile and in a way that made Marthy ^

feel he was thinking quotation marks. |

"Yes," she answered, rising from her seat.
"Won't you come in ?''

"Is this Mrs. Delton?" he asked, coming to-
wards the porch with his hat in hand and '
therehy displaying a very shapely head.

"Yes," again said Marthy, with a pretty touch
of pride in her manner.

"My name," said the stranger, "is Seymore,
Peyton Seymore. I belong to the fishing party
of whom Mr. Conway wrote Mr. Delton. I have
come, somewhat in advance of the party, to see
your husband and to get his advice about a camp.
Is he at home ?"

"He is out on the farm, but I can call him
in," replied Marthy, offering a chair to the visi-
tor.

"Let me get you a glass of fresh water," she
added, with the wonted mountain hospitality.
He bowed his thanks, glancing down at the mag-
azine that lay open beside her chair. He was
surprised to find that it was the Review of Re-
vieios.

Eeuhen Delton, Preacher. 245

Around him was a wealth of flowers — nastur-
tiums, pansies, and asters, and above them was
poised a humming bird taking its supper with
that tremulous grace that is so wonderful.
Everything bespoke peace and comfort, and
there was an air of refinement about the house
and its mistress.

^^N^ow/' said Marthy, as she handed the water,
^^if you will excuse me, I will call Mr. Del-
ton.''

^^Could not I find him ? I do not like to put
you to so much trouble," replied Mr. Seymore,
as deferentially as if he had been addressing a
city belle.

^^Oh ! ves, vou could find him, but it is not
necessary. I will just call him up from the
barn-yard," she said with a laugh.

She disappeared, and he heard her pass
through the house. In a few moments there
rang out on the stillness of the afternoon air in
clear sweet tones a call that delighted the music-
loving ear of Peyton Seymore. He sat charmed
for a moment by a voice as rich as any he had
ever heard, then, impelled by his curiosity, he
sprang to his feet and ran out into the yard and
around the comer of the house nearest the barn,
where Mrs. Delton had said she was going. His
search was rewarded, for, standing on the top

246 Beuhen Delton, Preacher.

step of the stile between the barn-yarcl and t^ie

field, stood lEarthy, her eves shielded from the

glare of the snn by one hand and she singing a

strain like this :

" Oreola ! oreola ! oreola, Oh — la. !
Oreola, oreola, oreola, oh — ee!"

She had paused between the two strains, and
now she stood with her head bent in a channing
pose of attention. In another moment came the
response in a mellow tone :

"Oreola, oreola, oreola, oh — ah!"

Then Mar thy sprang lightly down and hurried
back to the house. She lausiied when she found
her guest standing in the yard, and said, '^I
should have j^repared you for my 'phone. You
see that it is wireless !"

^^It served its j)urpose, I noted, and surely one
does not hear such musical 'phones often !"

"My husband and myself are often situated
just as now," Marthy replied, simply, '^^and w^e
find it necessary to have some way of communi-
cating."

In a few moments Reuben's step was heard
in the yard, and the sound of little Greyson'a
merry chatter.

By the repetition and the last line ending in
E, he had understood that he was wanted by a
stranger at once.

Beuben Delton, Preacher. 247

ii^

'Why, I am sure I had the pleasure of meet-
ing yoii last summer at Farmville !" exclaimed
Heuben, shakino; hands cordially with Peyton
Seymore.

"Yes; I was there. I haye been at Blowing
Rock this Slimmer, and belong to the fishing
party of which Mr. Conway wrote yon."

In a little while he made known his errand.
The party, consisting of six, wanted information
as to the best places to fish; also, if they might
make their headquarters near the manse, and
lastly, and by no means the least important re-
quest was, if ^Irs. Delton would furnish them
with bread and with milk.

While the two men discussed the placing of
the camp and other matters concerning the fish-
ing, llarthy took time to obserye their gaiest, and
perhaps the elegant and accomplished Mr. Sey-
more would haye been surprised to know that,
in her estimation, he suffered by comparison
with her husband !

Reuben, still in his shirt sleeves and blue over-
alls, his face flushed with health and toil, his
brown hair clinging in moist rings about his
fine white brow, his grey eyes bright with intel-
ligence and habitual kindliness, and the smile
that continually played about his mouth, spoke
unmistakably of happiness and peace within.

248 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

Peyton Sejanore, in liis stylish knickerbock-
ers, with his pale and aristocratic features, his
fine brown eves, and his handsome month
marred by its cynical expression, and where the
smiles did not seem entirely at home to Marthy's
searching eye, gave evidence of not having at-
tained to that condition which she knew that
Kenben enjoyed.

"Marthy, I have answered my part of Mr.
Seymore's questions ; now what have you to
say V

Mr. Seymore turned smilingly to Marthy and
said, ^^If your bread is as fine as the ^^odel you
called 3'our husband with, we will esteem our-
selves fortunate men, Mrs. Delton.''

Marthy laughed.

"Oh ! you must not expect much of a woman

just because she can sing ; besides, Mr. Seymore,

"I pipe just as the robins do,
And sing because I must."

Peyton Sevmore stared at the little mountain
Avoman who quoted Tennyson so prettily. He
had not been so interested in anv man or woman
in a long while as he found himself beginning to
be in the Deltons.

"But T am not talking business,'' added
Marthy, quickly. "As to making the bread, I
can make light bread for you twice a week. Will

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 249

tliat do ? Or did you mean that jou would like
fresh bread every day ?"

"As your famous Governor Vance said on
one occasion^ I think I will take a little of
both/' he answered with a droll expression that
conveyed the impression that he was very dubi-
ous about the cuisine of the camp.

"Well, I will help you all I can/' said Marthy,
pleasantly.

"I will put on my coat and go with you if you
will excuse me a moment/' said Reuben. He
was in favor of their camping at the ford, and
was anxious to j)resent the arguments, if neces-
sary, before they came any nearer the manse.
He knew nothing of these men, and remembered
some experiences over in Wautauga when
Marthy had been very much annoyed.

Fortunately, they had stopped at the ford as
it had been su2:.2:ested to them in Mineville, and
Reuben found them just discussing the proper
placing of the tents when he drew near.

Among the gentlmen was one whose face he
recognized at once.

"Major Burnby," said Seymore, introducing
Reuben.

"Oh ! I recognize Mr. Helton, though he may
not recall my face. I was present last summer
when you told the story of the converted out-

250 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

laWj and it made quite an impression on me,
sir — quite an impression ! Does lie hold out ?"

The question Avas asked in a jocular tone, and
Reuben noticed also a shade of contempt on the
face of Pevton Sevmore as he turned to intro-
duce the rest of the party.

After shaking hands cordially all round,
Reuben turned back to Major Burnby and said,
"I am glad to be able to give a good account of
my friend Dan Ruger. I have in my pocket a
letter I received from him. vesterdav, of which
I think I am justly proud, not for my own sake,
but for his. He is not only a changed man
morallv, but there has come an intellectual
awakenins; that is trulv remarkable. I would
like," continued Reuben, raising his voice so
as to arrest the attention of all the party — ^^I
would like to lav before vou this letter, and the
first that I received from him, and let you see
for vourselves the difference."

"To what do you attribute this intellectual
change ?" asked some one, and Reuben reiuarked
the expression of amusement and derision in
Sejmiore's eyes.

"Perhaps I would best call it the reward of
virtue," answered Reuben, fixing his eyes fear-
lesslv on Pevton Sevmore. "I believe in the di-

tj t.' t'

vine law of compensation, gentlemen. This

Reuben Deltoiij Preacher. 251

poor fellow, with an entire lack of those en-
vironments whicli influence most of ns to be
Christians and gentlemen, grew up in ignorance
and vice. He had barely learned to read, but it
did not help him, for he had no books to read.
By what yon may call accident, but ^\^hat I call
a providential interference, he is brought to be-
lieve in Christ, to repent of his sins, to an hon-
orable surrender of himself to the law for past
offences, and now, in what most people would
call the hour of his darkest disgrace, God is giv-
ing him time to think, opportunity to study, and
has awakened in him a desire for knowledge.

"If, as I pray and confidently believe, the
governor will pardon him, he will come out of
jail a useful citizen as well as a Christian
man."

What was it that gave to this young moun-
taineer clad in jeans a certain power over his
hearers that was felt, even if it was not always
openly acknowledged ? Major Eurnby spoke of it
after Eeuben left them, and asked if anybody
could explain it.

"Personal magnetism !" called out one. "The
power of the unexpected,'' suggested another.

"I'll tell you what I believe it is," said the pro-
fessor, who had been absorbed in getting the
tents stretched. "The fellow has strong convic-

252 Reuben Deltoii, Preacher.

tionSj and lie lives up to them. I never remem-
ber to have seen any man who believed any-
thing very positively who did not influence
others by the very sincerity of his purpose."

'^That is so/' answered Major Burnby thought-
fully. ^

While the fishing party were discussing
Iteuben Delton and his power, Reuben had re-
turned to the manse, and was making merry
over Marthy's excitement at the prospect of in-
creasing her church building fund.

She was untiring in her efforts, and met with
the usual reward of such brave spirits. She had
put away about fifty dollars, the earnings of her-
self and a few others, and Miss Greyson and
Miss Boutelle had cheered her by the promise of
at least one hundred more by October, and she
was beginning to dream of plans, and even of
furnishings.

^^Reub, I think it would be nice for me to send
a pat of butter when I send over the milk and
bread tomoiiow morning, don't you?"

Reuben 02>ened, his eyes w^ide, and said
"What ! give it to them ? Why, little woman, I
never dreamed you would be so generous !"

"Oh ! what a goose you are, preacher. Don't
you see that if they once get a taste of my butter,
they will want it all the time ?"

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 25

Q

^^Oh ! you wily little woman. I did not give
yon credit for being so artful."

Martliy fell asleep with a happy smile on her
face and with visions of the little church of
which she had alreadv drawn more than one
plan.

Reuben took over the basket himself the next
morning, and was met with a welcome^ all the
more cordial when the beautiful rolls and rich
milk and butter were lifted out, and a pitcher
filled with some of Marthy's handsomest flow-
ers beside.

^^Will you not breakfast with us?" Reuben
was asked.

"Thank you, but I breakfasted two hours ago.
TTe mountain people love early hours, you
know. I am going up to see some of my people
in Little Peach Greek Cove, and I thought if
you gentlemen had no plan for to-day, you
might go with me and explore the cove. The
fishing is fine at two or three points. You can
go up to McGutchen's with me, and will get
a warm welcome that will season the plain fare,
or you can stop about three miles up and come
back to camp for your dinner."

"Camp Idlewiki, it is, Mr. Delton ?" Reuben
bowed and complimented the name.

The party was in for anything new, and

254 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

gladly accepted the invitation to go a part of
the way with Reuben.

"Jnst ride on, Mr. Delton, and we will catch
lip in tJie course of a half hour if that will suit
you ?"

"All right. I have to stop at the first farm
house on the other side of the creek, and will
wait there for you."

"Even if we do not catch many fish we will
enjoy the tramp and this interesting psycologi-
cal study that we have stumbled on/' said the
professor, pointing to Reuben Delton, who was
still in sight on the other side of the stream.

"That's certainly so about the young preach-
er," said one, and they all agreed that the invi-
tation was just what they wanted.

When they neared the farmhouse, the sound
of singing in a clear, strong tenor voice caused
them to halt before inquiring for Delton.

Peyton Seymore guessed at once that it was
Reuben's voice.

"Do you suppose he is having some kind of
religious service?" he asked.

"Well, maybe so, but we were not asked, and
I think we will not go in," replied Major
Burnby, who was more intent on fishing than
religious services.

They moved nearer to the gate to hear the

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 255

singing, which was really very good, and in do-
ing so attracted the attention of some one in the
house, and soon all the family but the sick man
and Reuben were at the door to see the very un-
usual si2:ht of ^^summer boarders" in Little
Peach Creek Cove.

The singing ceased and Reuben appeared.

^^Whv, here vou are, gentlemen ! You must
be good walkers. Mr. Mackey, these are the
fishermen I told vou about."

^^Won't you-uns come in an' rest yer hats a
while ? I kin give you some plumb good milk

an' fust-rate peaches, ef w'at ther preacher says

* ?>
IS so.

Old man Mackey came do^^m the steps and
opened the gate cordially as he spoke, but the
fishermen had so recently breakfasted, and were
so eager to go forward, they begged off and
promised to come back.

After they had started off the professor said,

^^Why, Mr. Delton, you ought to give up
preaching and take to singing to make your liv-
ing ! That voice of yours would be worth a small
fortune to vou in the cities."

^^Oh ! my wife ought to hear that," said
Reuben, with a hearty laugh. "She is a crank
just now on the subject of a church we want to
build, and would ship me to ^ew York at once

256' Reuben Delton, Preacher.

if she thoiiglit there was any prospect of my be-
ing so profitable." Then he adcledj with a shade
of gravity on his bright face, ^^^o applause of
large audiences could compensate me as the look
of relief and peace that I have watched stealing
into the face of the poor young fellow in there.
He has some form of hip disease, and suffers in-
tensely at times. I found out that he loves
music, and I almost always stop and sing for
him. My wife and I love to come together
when we can, and it is astonishing how quickly
our singing seems to soothe him.''

About two miles beyond Mackey's they came
to the first place that Reuben had recommended
to the fishermen, and he stopped, gave them a
few directions, and then mounted his mule,
which he had led thus far from Mackev's.

^^What an egregious mistake for a man like
that to waste his life in a thankless job like this
in these little mountain coves !" exclaimed Pey-
ton Seymore, as Keuben rode out of sight up the
rough mountain road.

"He has certainly very attractive manners,
and uses remarkably good English, too, as I
noted last summer," said the professor. "He
gives one the impression of unusual mental
power !"

^Yes, indeed, and he seems well posted too on

cr

Reuben. Delton, Preacher

257

the events of the day, a very companionable
man, sir— very ! Pity he should share that mis-
taken notion of so manv of these relio-ious
cranks, and feel called npon to arrest the de-
velopment of his o^\ai powers in order to en-
lighten a few of these dolts who might just as
well live out their stupid lives as the genera-
tions before them have done !"

This remark was made bv Fred Linton, a
young man who was cultivating cynicism along
with other isms at one of the "intellectual cen-
tres" of the country.

"You seem to forget," said Dr. IN^eilson, ad-
dressing the party, "that Mr. Delton himself is
one of ^these dolts.' He tells me he is a moun-
tain man, born and reared over near Blowing
Rock, and had never been bevond the mountains
until he went to the Seminarv. And he cer-
tainly is not only a fine specimen of manhood,
but a very strong argument in favor of develop-
ing the intellectual powers of a portion of our
country that has given us such men as Cyrus
B. llcCormick, Zebulon Yance, Stonewall Jack-
son, and a host of other distinguished men."

"But those men were exceptions, doctor."

"True, but how are you going to find the ex-
ceptions ? There must be help given to all.
More's the pity that it has not been given be-

258

Reuben Delton, Preacher.

fore ! I heard an intelligent Christian worker
say that from one of his mountain schools had
gone out three fellows^ apparently ordinary
mountain boys, who were not only ffood Latin
scholars when they left him, but who within a
year afterwards were earning good salaries as
stenographers, ^o, no, Seymore, all mountain-
eers are not dolts, and there are no nobler men on
God's earth to-day than the men, like Delton, of
bright parts, who are trying to uplift those Svho
have been reduced to their present condition of
poverty and ignorance by the strenuous condi-
tions under which they have been compelled to
1

? 7>

ive

^'^This is an interesting subject," remarked
Major Burnby, just here, ^^but we cannot talk
and fish too. I move that this meeting be ad-
journed until we get back to camp.''

The motion was carried, and the fishermen
gave themselves up to the delightful pursuit of
speckled trout. Wishing them all success, let us
return to the manse.

It was the afternoon for Miss Fields' regular
fortnight visit, and Marthy always enjoyed pre-
paring for her.

There was somethino; in Grace Fields that
had called out her very deepest compassion, but
it was only from what she had learned inci-

Reuben Delton, Preacher.

259

dentally, for tliere never was a more reticent
person than this lonely yonng woman who had
so much need for sympathy. And poor Marthy,
who had bv no means entirely ontoTo^vn her
childish inclination to know^ the reasons of
thingSj was often sorely tried by this reti-
cence.

She knew that Miss Fields had been raised in
a city in a neighboring State ; that her parents
were dead ; that something had happened in her
past life to embitter and change its whole tenor,
but there all knowledge of Miss Fields' story
stopped off, as Marthy told Reuben, "as ab-
ruptly as Short Off Mountain."

^¥hat ? Why ? Where ? Who ? these questions
often assaulted Marthy, and as she had learned
not to ask questions, she suffered the more.

Miss Fields had decided to keep the school
for another year, though six months before she
would have been amazed if anybody had sug-
gested such a thing.

Strange as it may seem to any one whose heart
is not in sympathy with the unrest of this young
woman's soul and mind, she was beginning, un-
der the influence of wholesome work, and the
equally strong influence of genuine religious en-
thusiasm as exhibited in the Deltons, to see pos-
sibilities of peace and of happiness in life of

260

Reuben Delton, Preacher.

wliicli she had never dreamed before, and uncon-
sciously she was developing strength that she
had not seemed to possess even in embryo when
she first came.

As Marthy drove her up to the gate at the
manse, she looked around her and gave a deep
inhalation that expressed her intense satisfac-
tion at being at the ^^House of Rest" once more.

^^I shall not go in-doors until the night air
forces me in !" she exclaimed, as she looked
about her on the beautv that clothed the scene
as a garment. The yard was ablaze with
dahlias, asters, nasturtiums and pansies, flowers
that adorn the countrv well at this time, scarcelv
more than memories of summer gone.

"Don't you want any hot rolls or cream cheese
then ?" asked Marthv in a tone of much horror.
She was always so pleased with Miss Fields'
keen enjopnent of her home.

"Oh ! — yes, that's a fact. I can't afford to
give up your rolls and cream cheese even for
this." She spread her arms out as if she would
fain embrace the whole landscape.

"But I shall eat just as I do at the railway
stations when thev call out, ^twentv minutes for
supper !' "

"TTell, you will have some time to enjoy it
yet, for we will wait for Reub, and I must go

Reuben Delton, Preacher.

261

now and prepare tlie biscuits and milk I am to
send to the fishing party.''

Grace Fields seated herself in a low rocker,
and, taking off her hat and throwing her arms
np behind her head in a favorite pose, prepared
to feast on the sunlit beauty spread out before
her. She had never known until she came to
this beautiful region the strength of her sensu-
ous nature — had never before lived near enough
to JSTature's heart to hear its throbs and to feel
its soothing influence.

She began her life here by being amused and
diverted by the people she met, then when she
began to study them closer, she found a sturdy
worth in some, quick mental capacity in many,
and everything to look up to and admire in the
Deltons.

There was a power ruling in their lives which
she had never felt — something that made life
worth living right here in this mountain valley.
What was it ? That question haunted her until
she discovered that the key to all w^as, the con-
straining power of love — love to God and love
to others. And from that day she sought to re-
model her own life.

^^If I could always live near them, maybe I
would grow like them," she thought. She did
not yet understand that she needed to make the

•i

262 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

same surrender tliat tliey had made. But surely
she took a step in the right direction when she
began to feel the need for the same power.

Just one thing marred her pleasure this af-
ternoon. It was the thought of the possibility
of meeting the fishing party. She had lived
so peacefuly, so independently without associa-
tion with men from the outside world, she
shrank with something akin to timidity from
meeting them.

^^I hope the fishers will not invade our quiet,
Mrs. Delton ?'' she had asked when Mar thy had
told of their arrival and camp at the ford.

Marthy laughed heartily, and replied, ^'Why,
they will not hurt us if they do come. Reub
says they are very clever gentlmen, and the one
that came here yesterday afternoon was a hand-
some fellows"

"That is the very kind I do not wish to meet,"
was Miss Fields' ansAver, and then she adroitly
changed the subject.

CHAPTEK VII.

A Fisher of Meist.

A MORE beautiful Sabbath morning never
dawned than that which broke in all Sep-
tember's glory the next day. The crispness of
early autumn air was tempered by the simshine
that flooded Peach Creek Valley.

The flower beds at Valley Manse were not only
arrayed in all the splendor of Solomon, but the
air was redolent with the spicy perfume of nas-
turtiums, pansies, and old-fashioned pinks.

Occasionally the note of a thrush or of a cat-
bird was heard, but above them soared the voice
of Marthy singing at her w^ork in the kitchen.

Miss Fields was waked by the singing, and
sprang up and dressed quickly with a feeling
that she was missing something, and she was
right, for every one is a loser who misses the
charm of the early September mornings in the
mountains.

By ten o'clock they were off for preaching.
Peuben expected to hold the services out of
doors, as the weather w^as fine.

Marthy and Miss Fields, with little Greyson,

2G4 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

occupied the buggy, and Reuben was mounted
on Jobo.

As they drove near the camp, the scene Avas
quite picturesque. There were two large tents,
and the wagon with the horse tethered near.
There was the fire where the breakfast had been
prepared, and two or three gentlemen strolling
around, while one lay smoking in his hammock.

Grace Fields glanced carelessly towards them.
She felt no special interest in them, excepting
for the financial profit that was to accrue to
Marthy's church fund by their presence in the
neighborhood.

Major Burnby called out a courteous ^^Good
morning" as they passed, and the others lifted
their hats.

"Drive on, ^larthy,'' said Reuben ; "I will
catch up in a few moments. I am going to in-
vite them to preaching. '^

He checked his horse and said, "Gentlemen,
I would be very glad to have you come to our
preaching services if you feel inclined. There
will be a spice of novelty about them for some of
you i3robably."

He gave the invitation simply and w^ithout
any apologetic words. He knew these were city
men, one of them a professor, and all of them
men of education, and possibly of culture. To

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 265

fear tlieir criticism never occurred to Keubeii
Delton, for, while lie was snfficientlv cultivated
himself to appreciate culture in others, this mat-
ter of delivering a message to men's souls was
not to be regarded from a literary standpoint.
In his opinion, it was lifted on a plane as much
higher than mere literary excellence, as the
spirit of man is above his intellect.

In his judgment, for one to spend his time
criticising the literarv stvle of the man who
brings him a message of life and death import
was worse than follv, and vet there are scores of
people in every congregation, many of them
nominal Christians, who indulge in this folly
habitually !

''We were just discussing the matter as you
drove up, Mr. Delton," said Major Burnby, who
generally acted as spokesman, ''Dr. [N^eilson dis-
covered your notice posted on the elm a while be-
fore breakfast."

"Some of us will certainlv 2:0," said Dr. ^eil-
son, and Reuben, smiling his reply and touching
his hat, rode away.

Pevton Sevmore found himself really inter-
ested in this mountain missionary. He was
conscious that Reuben Delton possessed a
strength of character that he did not have. He
was even conscious of being less satisfied with

2GG Eeuben Delton, Preacher.

liis own intellectiTality, aud even Lis acquire-
ments, in the man's presence, and he resolved
to gratify the curiosity to hear him preach.

When the party arrived at the large shed or
"arbor/' as it was called, where the services were
to be held, their presence created quite a stir.
Mineville was too remote as yet from the high-
ways of the State to have attracted many visi-
tors, excepting the occasional mica buyers and
other prospectors for minerals who appeared at
intervals, and it was therefore quite an event to
have a party of "sure-enough summer boarders"
in their midst.

Services had not yet begun when they drove
up, and as soon as he saw them Reuben beck-
oned to some one and said, "Give those men
seats, please. They are strangers, and as I in-
vited them, I want them to be comfortable."

Upon the rostrum or stand where Reuben sat
there was a small table, and on it was his Bible
and hymn book and a large pitcher filled with
magnificent asters and ferns.

Marthy led the singing, playing the accom-
paniments on a small organ, assisted by Miss
Fields and several other yoimg people.

The simple hymns were well selected and in-
spiring, and the visitors were surprised at the
spirited singing.

Reiiben Belt on, Preacher. 267

When Eeuben Delton stood up and, with out-
stretched arms, said, ^'Let ns pray," there was
no one there who rose to his feet more promptly,
nor assumed a more reverent posture, than Pey-
ton Seymore, though he was professedly a
skeptic as to prayer.

After reading and expounding a chapter in a
very simple yet attractive way, another hymn
was sung, and then Eeuben began to preach, tak-
ing as his text 2 Tim. i. 12, "For I know in
whom I have believed.''

Pevton Sevmore's attention was all the more
fixed because he recalled the remark of the pro-
fessor, that Reuben was "a man of strong con-
victions." It was so it seemed, and now there
was an opportunity to hear him define them.

Reuben's language, while perfectly correct,
was absolutely simple ; his audience was com-
posed chiefly of uneducated and ignorant men
and women. The presence of these educated
men never made him swerve for one moment
from his purpose to speak so that every one there
might understand hiiu.

We cannot reproduce his whole sermon, nor
can we convey to the reader the force of his
earnestness. It flashed in his fine grey eyes, it
thrilled in the tones of his noble voice, and spoke
in every gesture.

2G8

Eeiihen Delton, Preacher.

He began with an illustration something like
this: ^^If YOU were ffoiria; awav, and wanted to
leave vour wife and children in the care of some
one, YOU would want to know him. If you had
not known him all Your life, you would take the
trouble to inquire of eYerybody all about him.
His life, his work, his disposition — everything
concerning him. Is he kind ? is he sensible ? is
he willing to help others ? All these questions
YOU would do well to ask. Then if you tried
him and found that he was alwavs kind and
wise and willing to help you, you would say
what this man Paul, whose words I have just
repeated, said, 'I know in whom I have be-
lieved.'

"There are so many people that profess to be
Christians, yet are not certain about their Savior
or themselves. They do not know in whom they
have believed ; they are not persuaded, or sure,
that he is able to keep that which they have com-
mitted to him. They spend more time in watch-
ing the people around them to see how many
wrong things they do than they spend in learn-
ing more about the Redeemer that died for
them.

"^ow, mavbe you sav, ^Yes, but God is not
here. I never have seen him. I don't know
for certain that he likes me well enough to save

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 269

me. How can I know him ? Some people say
it is foolish to believe in a person you have never
seen.'

''Yes, I know there are people who talk that
wav. Sometimes I can feel sorrv for them, but
most of the time I have not patience enough
with them to be sorry, for, oh ! my friends,
they are acting as if it did not matter very much
one way or another what they believe ; and yet
it is not a little thing not to believe in God. It
means either heaven or hell hereafter ! And
even in this world it means peace and happi-
ness and safety, for God has promised to take
care of those who trust in him, and he does it,
too ! Thank God some of us know that."

There was a flash of triumph in Reuben Del-
ton's eye that was a powerful argument in it-
self.

"But some of vou will sav, 'How am I to
know God so that I mav believe in him V Read
the Bible; that is God's letter he has written for
us. He meant us to search there for all he
promises to do for us, and all that he w^ants us
to do.

"You have never seen the governor, but if
you were in jail and I should bring you a letter
pardoning you, would you say, 'I never saw the
governor. I don't know whether he wrote it or

270 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

not V ISTo ; you would see the governor's stamp
and seal on it, and you would believe and come
out of that jail.

^'But God did more to prove his love to you
than giving his Bible. He gave you a Savior,
his onlv Son, who came to suffer shame and
death on the cross for your sins, and in your
place. Did you ever see a man you would die
for ? 'Not just die in an open fight, but die a
disgraceful death for ? Xo ; you would not do
that for the best man you ever knew, but Jesus
Christ did that for sinners ; and, oh ! my friends,
God was willing ! God was willing ! That is the
most wonderful thing that you ever heard. You,
sinning against him, unbelieving, ungrateful,
breaking all his laws, and worthy to suffer the
full penalty the law demands, and God willing
to save YOU ! 'For God so loved the world that
he o'ave his onlv be2:otten Son, that whosoever
believeth on him should not perish, but have
everlasting life !'

^'Oh 1 don't you see that Paul, who had been
such a sinner, and who had found such a Savior,
could say, '1 know in whom I have believed' ?
Life is short. We mav some of us be dead
before another Sundav, but if we can sav with
Paul, 'I am persuaded that he is able to keep
that which I have committed unto him unto

Reuben Delton, Preacher.

271

that day/ what will it matter ? what will it mat-
ter V

Keuben stood silently for a moment after ask-
ing that question. His earnest eyes glanced
rapidly over the large audience and fell on the
white face of Peyton Seymore in passing. Then
he said reverently, ^^Let us pray."

It was a prayer that made an indelible im-
pression on more than one of his hearers, but
upon none more than upon the man who for
vears had turned his back on God's word and
had refused to believe in prayer.

"O God ! give us strong convictions of our
own sinfulness, and of thy holiness and truth.
Let us be ashamed to insult thee by neglecting
to know thee as thou hast revealed thyself in
thy word, or by half-way knowing and serving
thee." He closed with an earnest prayer for
^^the strangers that are in our midst."

When the singing began, Marthy's voice
sounded unusually sweet and tender. She sang
as if inspired, and Peyton Seymore leaned for-
ward to see her face. In doing so he looked full
into the eyes of Grace Fields. For a moment
the eifect on him was startling. He uttered a
low exclamation, unintelligible even to the pro-
fessor, who was sitting next to him, who only
saw that Seymore appeared excited and sur-

272 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

l^rised. Then by a powerful effort he controlled
himself and resumed a position that hid him
from the singers. As soon as the hymn was over
he slipj^ed out ; he could hardly have told why,
except that he felt the need of fresh air.

As for Grace Fields, she sustained the woman's
reputation by recovering her self-control more
promptly than Mr. Seymore. By the time she
boffan the last verse of the hvmn there was
scarcelv a tremor in her voice, though her heart
Avas still beating wildly.

She was perfectly sure that Peyton Seyinore
was in the audience while he was trying to con-
vince himself that somebody in this far-away
mountain assemblage resembled Grace Fields,
the woman that he had loved and hated by turns
for five years !

The questions that were perplexing him as he
walked awav from the arbor was, How can I
find out whether it is really Grace, and How
will she treat me if I attempt to speak to
her?

"If it should prove to be Grace Fields, in-
deed,'' he said to himself, "I shall be inclined to
believe in what they call providential dealings,
but what is she doing here !"

But the unexpected sight of Grace Fields was
not the only thing that stirred Peyton Seymore

s

i

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 273

to-day. There had come to him while Reuhen
Delton was preaching such a sense of his own
vacillation in reference to the supreme interests
of his sonl, such a consciousness of trifling and
ignorance concerning those things of which this
fearless, happy-hearted mountaineer spoke so
earnestly that he acknowledged to himself that,
weighing all of his so-called successes and pros-
perity in life against Reuben Delton's strong
convictions, and their outcome in his beautiful
life for his fellows, his own life was but a barren
failure in comparison.

While these thoughts swept rapidly through
his mind the crowd was dispersing for dinner,
which was to be eaten in the adjoining grove.

^^Where is Mr. Sevmore ?" asked Reuben when
he extended a courteous invitation to the fishing
party to take dinner with him.

^^I guess that you ran him off by your plain
speaking," said the professor.

The party declined remaining, giving as their
excuse the fact that dinner would be prepared at
Camp Idlewild, and nobody would be there to
eat it but Fred Linton.

When Reuben found Seymore, he renewed
his invitation to him, but it was courteously de-
clined.

"I cannot go without telling you, Delton, that

274

Reiihen Delton, Preaclier.

YOiir sermon lias moved me profoundly. You
have showed me the shallo^^^less of my own
mind and heart and the cowardliness of my
judgments."

^'Let me do more than that if I can/' replied
Reuben, earnestly.

"I would like to have a quiet talk with you/'
said Seymore. ^^Can I ?"

^'^Certainly. Suppose you come over this af-
ternooUj and I wdll take you to Buena Vista,
my wife's mountain view. Come about four."

Pevton Sevmore hesitated for a moment, then
he said, ^'May I ask you a question first ? It is
not so irrelevant as it may seem."

"Ask any number/' responded Reuben, pleas-
antlv.

"Who was the lady sitting next to Mrs. Del-
ton during service ?"

"That was Miss Fields, our teacher and spe-
cial friend. Do vou know her ?"

"Fields ! a teacher ! I knew one Miss Fields,
but it is impossible that she could be here as a
teacher, and yet," he added, "the resemblance
is very striking."

"This is Miss Grace Fields," said Reuben.

The others of the party w^ere drawing near,
and Seymore had onlv time to say in a low tone,
"I do not care to meet her until after I have

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 275

talked with yoii. Can I join you without hav-
ing to meet her ?"

^'Yes/' replied Reuben, much surprised, but
too polite to ask questions ; "cross the fence be-
low the garden, and go to the barn-yard. I will
meet you there at the stile."

The wagon was ready by this time, and the
party drove away, all speaking in high terms of
preaching and preacher.

The hours passed slowdy for Peyton Sey-
more between one and four o'clock.

Fred Linton had asked him to go fishing, and
was surprised when the invitation was declined
because of an engagement with Reuben Delton.

"Whew! You are really getting quite re-
ligious, Seymore ! Preaching in the morning
and preacher in the afternoon !''

The surprise of Fred Linton was still greater
when Seymore quietly replied, "It would not
hurt either of us to be more religious than we
are. I would give half of the filthy lucre that I
possess to be anything like the man Delton is,"
and he walked away.

Reuben Delton was waiting at the barn-yard
stile when he arrived, and they had passed
through the fields beyond, probably a quarter
of a mile, when, suddenly, a turn in the pretty
valley brought them to the view that Marthy

276 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

had named Buena Vista. There Reuben halted
and pointed to the gn-p in the hills where the
only view of the distant mountains could be
seen.

The valley narrowed here, and from a wooden
hillside on the right jutted a cliff. At its foot
gurgled a fine spring of delightful water.

Here the Deltons had arranged a seat, and
pointing to it, Reuben said, ^^Let us sit here,
Mr. Seymore. It is one of our favorite Sunday
afternoon resorts, but we will be safe from in-
trusion to-day."

Peyton Seymore sat down, and taking his
hat off, leaned back against the fine birch tree
behind him.

"Mr. Delton," he began, "you are not more
surprised at my seeking this interview than I
am. A month — a week ago even — I should
have hooted the idea of airing my opinions, es-
pecially my doubts on religious subjects, for
your benefit. But you satisfied me this morn-
ing that you are a man of clear perceptions
and strong convictions, therefore it may be that
you can help one who has groped for years, not
knowing what he believes and trying to think
that he believes nothing. You seem to be in
earnest, seem to be happy, and your convictions
make you live for other people."

Reuben Delton, Preacher.

217

Reuben smiled brightly. "I certainly do know
in whom I believe, and I certainly am happy,
and I shall be happier still if I can be of any ser-
vice to yon. I can hardly imagine anything
worse than for a man to live in doubt where his
soul is concerned.'^

"Mr. Seymore, you believe that the Bible is
the inspired word of God ? I ask this question
because all I know and can tell you is based on
this belief.''

Peyton Seymore was startled at the question,
because it touched the very root of his diflSculty.
During his college life he had been thrown with
a brilliant man who was a skeptic, and not hav-
ing been early taught a simple faith in God and
his word, Seymore fell a victim to the folly of
not believing what he could not understand.

"I am afraid I have not believed it. The
truth is, that I have doubted everything that a
man can doubt. Did you never pass through
this phase of mental development ?"

"1^0 ; thank God !" replied Reuben. "I began
by believing in my mother. She believed in
God and in the Bible as his revealed word.
Therefore I accepted it. The Bible tells me
Christ died for me. It shoAVS me that faith and
obedience make the law of his kingdom. It tells
me that love — love to others — is the rule of life

278 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

in that kingdom. It is a simple faith ; but God
requires of us simple faith. ^Except ye become
as little children je cannot enter the kingdom of
heaven.' I would not have vou think mine is a
blind faithj though, nor that I did not after-
wards examine for myself^ but I began where
Clirist tells us to begin — by believing in him.
Have you studied the Bible carefully? My
work lies chiefly among those whose unbelief is
based on igTiorance. They simply do not know
that there is a Bible ; but I have met one or two
so-called skeptics, and I found them equally
ignorant, so far as personal study of the Bible
was concerned. They had studied much that
other men had ^vritten against the Bible, but
had never examined it for themselves.''

^'Mr. Delton, I do not own a Bible now. When
I began to develop these deistic views I loved a
Christian woman. She broke with me because
of this, and in my rage and folly I burned my
Bible, and have never OAMied another since."

Reuben Delton impulsively laid his hand on
Seymore's arm, and smiling sadly, said, "And
so vou drifted off over a sea of sorrow without a
chart !"

Seymore sat in silence with his head resting
against the tree behind him, his eyes gazing far
off where the turquoise of the mountains was

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 279

lost in tlie paler blue of the skv. After a few
moments, Avithont changing liis posture, lie said,
^^I saw that woman at church this morning.''

"Miss Grace Fields !" exclaimed Delton. "Is
it j)ossible ! O Mr. Seymore 1 I knew that she
was a brave woman, but I didn't know she had
courage for this !"

"You commend her then for having blasted
my happiness ?" asked Peyton Seymore in a bit-
ter tone.

"O Mr. Seymore ! do not try to lay the blame
of your blasted happiness, if it is indeed blasted,
on the woman vou say that vou have loved. I
can not think of cowardice as one of your qual-
ities, yet such an accusation is prompted by
cowardice. If a Christian woman must chose
between her God and her lover, she dares not
hesitate. Would she have kept her faith with
God if she had married vou, un unbeliever ?
She dared not pray ^lead us not into temptation'
and then wed a skeptic. Oh ! you do not under-
stand the strength of faith that is rooted and
grounded in Christ."

"]S^o, I certainly do not, though even a glimpse
of it through other eyes makes it seem wonder-
fully attractive."

"Did you at any time in your life feel very
deeply the need of a divine Redeemer? I can

280 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

not "understand how any man can fail to find the
Christ who seeks him. The condition of finding
is seeking, just as that of receiving is ask-
ing.'^

^'^o, I cannot say that I have. To-day I have
had, perhaps for the first time, the conviction
forced upon me that there is a reality and a
power in the Christian religion, and conse-
quently in the Christ.''

"And if you will take that Christ as your per-
sonal Redeemer now, not waiting to build up a
conviction of the truth of the holy Scriptures
first, but just coming to him, needy, helpless
acknowledging your past sinfulness and failure,
as far as real happiness is concerned, O Mr.
SejTuore ! what a new life would begin for you
to-day"

Reuben spoke earnestly, with the light of his
o^vn faith and happiness shining in his eyes and
lighting his face with the beauty of enthusiasm.

"You make it all seem very simple and very
attractive, Delton," said Seymore, gravely, "but
you have no conception of the vindictiveness of
my spirit, of the scoffing that has possessed my
lips during these years since Grace Fields told
me why she could not marry me. How can I
ever undo all that ? how can I atone ?''

'You cannot. Christ will do that if you come

ii\r.

Reuben Delton, Preaclie7\ 281

to him. truly repentant and willing. He is our
substitute.''

The sun was setting in richest September
glory. Clouds and trees and fields, all glowed
with color, and Reuben thought, as he told
Marthv, that unseen ano'els must have watched
the conflict between pride and faith in the heart
of Peyton Seymore.

Slowly and reverently he began to repeat :

" Just as I am without one plea,
But that thy blood was shed for me,
And that thou bidst me come to thee —
O Lamb of God, I come!

" Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot;
To thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot —
0 Lamb of God, I come!

" Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt;
Fightings within and fears without —
O Lamb of God, I come!

" Just as I am, thou wilt receive.
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because thy promise i believe —
O Lamb of God, I come!

As he uttered the last line his companion, in
a voice shaken with emotion, said, "0 Lamb of
God, I come !"

Eeuben clasped his hands, too much moved to

282 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

speak. Then by tacit consent tliey rose to their
feet.

^^May the peace of God which passeth all nn-
derstanding keep your heart and mind/' said
Renbenj reverently^ and they moved away, for'
the snn had set.

A¥hen they had Avalked some little distance,
Seymore spoke.

"I have all my real life to begin. I am pos- f^

sessed of ample means. I have a fine practice as
a lawyer, but I feel now that I have never trnly
lived. And," he added, hesitatingly, ^^as to
Grace Fields, shall I tell her of this change now ?
Surely, her being here and my coming here — all
is what you would call a — "

"A special providence!'' answered Reuben,
with a w^insome smile.

"Mr. Seymore, you have asked me — let me
make the suff^estion that vou do not tell her yet.
Meet her with the cordiality of old acquaint-
ances— nay, more — but wait. A woman's eye
is quick to detect any change, especially where
she has loved. She will find it out in vour face,
where I, stranger as I am, note a softer expres-
sion, and then — well, we shall have to look for
another teacher !"

"!Nro ! no !" replied Seymore, his pale face
flushing as he spoke, and his tone full of hope-

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 283

lessness, ''that is too good to be true. She'' —
but he did not finish his sentence, because he saw
that he was replying to Reuben's thought rather
than his words.

''Take this with you, Mr. Seymore; it is
marked, but you will not mind that. You will
notice on the fly-leaf the words of the prayer that
1 always make before reading." Reuben handed
his well-worn pocket Bible to him, and on the
fly-leaf, as he glanced at it, Peyton Seymore
read, "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of thy law."

They parted at the fence, and Reuben re-
turned to the house with a glad heart.

The fishing party, after a week of fine sport
on Little Peach Creek and up in Peach Creek
Cove, left for Asheyille, highly delighted with
the country and with their success. But they
left one of their number behind.

Peyton Seymore was "so pleased with the cli-
mate and the people "in Peach Creek Valley"
that he decided to remain. He made no expla-
nations, and the gentlemen were too polite to
make inquiries, but ^lajor Burnby sententiously
remarked when he heard the news, "Two and
two make four, sir, and I know it !"

CHAPTEK VIII.

A Yeah^s Changes.

IT is September again, with September's deep
blue skies, genial sunshine, and crystal
^autumn air that make it the very gem of months
in the mountains.

A busy, eventful year has passed since we
were with the Deltons — a year eventful for them
as for others whose acquaintance we have made.

On the porch of Valley Manse, reveling in the
beauty that surrounds her, sits our old friend.
Miss Grey son, looking little changed by the
years that have passed since we saw her last at
Blowing Rock, save for the hair that has many
silver threads among the gold.

Marthy sits beside her with a more matronly
air about her, and her sweet baby-girl in her
arms, a second Marthy — Ida — this, but kno^vn
by various pet names : ^'^Marsie, "Beauty," "Lit-
tle Joy,'' and sometimes even "Sugar Lump !"

Greyson is playing in the yard and singing
as he plays, "On'ard, kistyen sojer," with more
correctness of tune than of pronunciation.

The manse has gained in beauty since we saw

Reuben Delton, Preacher. 285

it last, for the vines adorn the entire front of the
house as well as the porch, and the flowers are
more luxuriant than ever in the pretty beds be-
fore the door.

Early in June of this year Miss Greyson had
rejoiced the hearts of the Deltons by writing
that if Reuben would meet her or send for her
at the nearest railroad station, she w^ould like
to be a ^^sunimer boarder" with them if it suited.
She could not wait any longer to see the new
baby or the new home, and last but not least,
her boy Greyson.

It did not take the Deltons long to decide that
it suited them, and that they needed to see Miss
Greyson as badly as she needed to see them.

Reuben, accordingly, went for her in a com-
fortable surrey belonging to Superintendent Lax-
ley, now one of his best friends, and Miss Grey-
son spent the last night of June as her first un-
der the roof of Yallev Manse.

She had been with them now for two months,
taking the deepest interest in all that concerned
the family and the people among whom Reuben
labored.

Almost in sight of the house, and only a short
distance from the ford, rose a church that was
the joy of Reuben's heart and the pride of
Marthy's. We apportion these emotions in this

-J*

286 Reuben Delton, Preacher. |

way because Reuben says Martby earned the
right to be prond of it, while he could only re- *|

joice in it as the desire of his heart. It was mod-
est in him to say this, for he had surely a right
to claim much of the success as his. ]^ot only
the generosity of the mountain people, who had
given so nobly of both time and material, was
due to his splendid influence over them, but the
largest gifts to the building fund had come from
the fishing party.

Put awav amono; their treasures, Reuben and
Marthy had the following letter, which give the
reader some idea of the results of Peyton Sey-
more's acquaintance with the Deltons :

Dec. — , 18 .

"Deae Me. Deltox :

"Will you appropriate the enclosed check for
your church building fund ? I know something
of how greatly ^frs. Delton and yourself de-
sire to build, and if vou are in need of more
money, call on me. I shall consider it a high
privilege. !N"othing material can ever make an
adequate return for all the benefit I received,
not only from your words, but your life, but a
grateful heart is glad to express itself in any
way. Your reward will be bestowed by him you
serve, and to whom you pointed me as the Way
and the Truth and the Life !

Reuben Deltoiij Preacher. 287

"But Yoii know I owe Peach Creek Valley so
nuicli ! If there had not have been the finest of
speckled trout in its streams, I would not have
gone there. If I had not gone there, I would
not have known vou. If I had not kno\\Ti vou
and heard you preach, I would not, nay, I can-
not say that, for I must not limit God's power to
save, but I can say that if I had not told you all
my story, I would not to-day be the accepted
lover of Grace Fields! She has given me per-
mission to tell this, and to say that we hope some
day to hear you preach in that new church.

"With kindest regards for Mrs. Delton and
a kiss for that splendid boy,

"I am sincerely your friend,

"Peyton Seymoee.''

A check for two hundred and fifty dollars ac-
companied this letter, and Marthy's heart beat
a glad acknowledgment of Mr. Seymore's gen-
erosity.

Poth Major Burnby and Dr. i^eilson had con-
tributed, when they were leaving, smaller
amounts, it is true, but the expression of their
hearty approval of Reuben Delton and his work.
And so earlv in October the buildino; was be-
gun, and the roof was on by the time the cold
weather checked further work.

288 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

It was a simple striictiire, but neatly and care-
fully built, and was set on a pretty knoll several
hundred yards back from tlie road. There were
seveial fine hemlocks and chestnut trees around
it, and rhododendrons and ivies adorned the
yard.

The interior was ceiled with hemlock, and
the windows were large.

Since thev had had such generous assistance
from outside, they were anxious that the church
should be made in every way attractive.

"I think, preacher, that God's houses ought
to be more beautiful and as comfortable as our
own. Don't you believe it educates people to
have beautiful things about them ?"

"You are right, little woman, if we can only
but sure when to stop short of extravagance.
You know we could soon pass that line here,
where there is so much absolute distress and
need for aid. You know how important it is
for us to have school houses — one here near the
church and others in the coves."

"Yes, I know that," said Marthy, with a slight
shadow of disappointment on her bright face,
"but oh ! preacher dear, pray let us have one
pretty window back of the pulpit and a pretty
pulpit stand, not one of those boxy affairs that
are in all the churches I have ever seen. You

Reuhen Delton, Preacher. 289

know Miss Greyson thoii.c'lit so, and she and
Mrs. Bontelle have helped ns, and spoken spe-
cially of the window."

Marthy's pleadings Avere successful, and there
was a pretty and inexpensive colored window
behind tlie pulpit that was a never-ceasing source
of pleasure to those who had never seen any-
thing like it before, and could not compare it
with more pretentious work of the kind.

And the lectern was neat and pretty and not
^^boxy," much to Marthy's delight.

The generous donation of lumber and of time,
for there were many men willing to help on the
church, attested the interest of the whole neigh-
borhood in 'New Hope Church.

The day of the dedication was a happy one for
these faithful workers, and, indeed, for many
people from the coves, and from the whole re-
gion.

Mr. Dellinger, through whose efforts Keuben
had been called to this field, was present, and
said many kind words of praise and encourage-
ment, and the cup of happiness was full to the
brim for Rtuben and Marthy.

There w^ere now schools taught at three points
and in fairly comfortable buildings by young
men and women who had been themselves
trained in mountain schools, men and women

290 Reuben Delton, Pi^eaclier.

moved by the same impulse as Reuben and
Marthy Delton, who took, as they had taken as
their motto, that of the Greek racers, ^^Having
received light, give!''

The reader must not think that we have lost
sight of Dan Euger in our efforts to keep up
with the work of the Deltons in Peach Creek
Valley.

His case had been tried at the spring term
of court, and Heuben had gone over to Boone
as he had promised, and had testified so elo-
quently in Ruger's behalf that the solicitor had
said to him, with a laugh, ^'Mr. Delton, youVe
missed your calling; you ought to have been a
lawyer !"

"Thank you, captain," was the quick reply.
"I'd rather use what gifts God has given me to
save men's souls than their bodies."

■Ruger was sentenced to five years in the peni-
tentiary. It was proved that the man he had
shot did not die.

The poor fellow looked as if he would rather
it had been a death sentence, but the sense of
justice had come since his conversion. He knew
that he had offended against the law and do-
served to suffer.

"The part that hurts, preacher," he said to
Reuben after he had been remanded to jail —

Reuben Delton, Preaclier. 291

"the part tliat liurts is ther bein' so far from
you-iins, an' fur so long !"

"You can have better company than mine,"
said Reuben, laying his hand on Ruger's Bible.
"Study this, and live so that you may be a wit-
ness for your Lord. You will have many
chances to help others to find him.''

"I'm glad you said that. I never think o' my
bein' shut up, but because I've been Avicked an'
broke the laws. If I kin be of use to somebody
thar, ef I kin serve ther Lord thar, I kin stand
it a heap better."

"Remember I shall never forget you, Ruger,
and I shall keep on trying to get the governor
to pardon you."

He shook Ruger's hand heartily and was gone.

Reuben paid a flying visit to his Wautauga
friends at this time, and met with a loving wel-
come. AVlien he looked out on the majestic view
from Mountain Manse, there was a pang in his
heart that was only soothed by recalling cosy
Valley Manse and its sweet, brave mistress, who
had never uttered one murmur since she had setr
tled there. And he thanked God, silently, that
his work in Peach Creek Valley had been
blessed. He had found noble men and women
there^ warm-hearted and generous, who had wcl-

292 Reuben Belton, Preacher.

corned him and helped him "to their power, yea,
and beyond their power." Men and women
who only needed a leader to be ready to work,
and the changed condition of many of the
squalid homes he had found a year before at-
tested to the work he was doing.

Let us make a visit to Benny McCune, the
cripple boy of Crab Tree Cove.

We will not have to go far to find him, for
Reuben Delton never rested until he got the
family moved to a cabin near Peach Creek Ford,
where he could give Benny more attention, and
where there was a chance for McCune and his
oldest boy to get something to do. They were
both employed now at mica digging for Laxley.

In a plain but comfortable chair we will find
Benny busy with his knife, or maybe reading,
for generous friends have provided not only the
chair, but a Bible of his own and other books,
and The Youth's Companion. Every now and
then, in addition, come pictures sent by some
thoughtful Christian who are trying, in the
Master's name, to make others happy.

But Benny is not merely living for amuse-
ment now. Bennv McCune is one of the bread-
winners of the f amilv 1 His mother never fails
to tell this wonderful storv to all who come to

Reuben Delton, Preaclier, 293

see him, and she is as much changed, at heart,
as Benny is. He has learned tO' carve and to
make varions little souvenirs out of rhododen-
dron root, and friends are interesting them-
selves in the sale of them.

Reuben Delton's work in the coves has not all
been successful. There are stolid people there
still; there are men and women whose lives are
yet desperately wicked, but Reuben not only
preaches the gospel of hope, but he lives it. He
has learned as the years go by to regard God's
long-suffering patience as his most wonderful
attribute, and he strives to follow after, though
at times he may be faint with pursuing.

The work has not seemed less beautiful, nor
less worthy of his life-long devotion because of
discouragement.

One of his favorite texts is, "The husband-
man waiteth for the precious fruits of the earth,
and hath long patience for it until he receive the
earlv and the later rain."

The Deltons gave up Miss Fields with a curi-
ous blending of pleasure and pain. Marthy's
pet name for her had been "The Exception,"
which, being interpreted, means that she re-
garded Miss Fields as an exception to the rules
for qualification in a mountain teacher. But

294 Reuben Delton, Preacher.

Martliy and Reuben too recognized the hand of
God in the pretty romance of the meeting of
these estranged lovers, and they felt sure that it
was right every way that she should go.

Grace Fields carried with her new and very
precious ideas of Christian living, and of God's
faithful care of the least of his children.

POSTSCRIPT TO CHAPTER VIII.

A Year Latek.

A TALL, bearded man is driving a load of
hay into tlie barn-yard at Valley Manse.
On the top of the hay sits Greyson as happy as
a king, and cuddled in the arms of the driver is
little Marsie chattering like a magpie.

On the porch, and watching the scene with a
smiling face is Marthy.

^'I feel so safe when the children are with Mr.
Ruger, preacher," she said, turning to her hus-
band, who has just returned from a long pas-
toral tramp.

"When I remember him, as Linnie and I saw
him the night that Mandy Snoggs died, it is
hard to believe that this is the pale-faced, wild-
eyed outlaw. His whole expression is changed,
and he looks so well and strong.

"Yes, it is wonderful, but it is just what true
religion does, Marthy. I do not see how I
could get on without him in the cove work. I
.saw two men to-day who a year ago were the
worst men in this county. They were con-
verted at that last meeting he had near the still-

29 G Reuben Delton, Preaclier.

house, and now, like Dan Ruger, thej are
clothed and in their right minds, though I do
not know that they will make such workers as
he is/'

^'AYe'll hope so and pray so/' said Marthy,
softly.

''Yes, little woman, we will !"

Just then they could hear the words that

Ruger was singing as he fed the stock :

" Love I much ? I'm much forgiven !
I'm a miracle of grace !

''That is so!" exclaimed Reuben, and Marthy
agreed with him.

We will leave these busy workers now, pray-
ing that those who have read this simple story
may look on the beautiful work that is being
done in the by\vays and coves through all the
mountain region of the South as none the less
the Master's work because much of it is hidden
from the eyes of the world. And may they cheer
the workers by that practical sympathy which
is the natural outcome of faithful prayer !

?

L